Midfielder Abou Diaby is set to be released by Arsenal at the end of he season, ending a nearly 10-year stint at the club. The Frenchman, who won 16 caps for his country, joined Arsenal in January 2006 and made over 180 appearances for the Gunners.
The midfielder reportedly turned down Chelsea to move to Arsenal from Auxerre in 2006 for a fee of around £2million. Diaby has been very unlucky with injuries during his time at Arsenal, with his first big injury coming against Sunderland less than four months after moving to Arsenal.
He suffered a severe ankle fracture, the injury that many people feel has defined his career. He was out for eight months, and missed Arsenal's 2006 Champions League final defeat against Barcelona. Diaby did appear in Arsenal's 2007 League Cup final against Chelsea.
Between the beginning of the 2007-08 season and the end of the 2010-11 season, Diaby made over 120 appearances for Arsenal, but he was still blighted with injury problems. These injuries defined the rest of his Arsenal career, and despite some good performances at the beginning of the 2012-13 season he would never be able to hold down a regular starting place again.
In the last two seasons, he has made a mere two appearances for Arsenal, with these two seasons again being plagued with injuries. Questions have been asked over whether Arsene Wenger should keep him at the club, and they have been answered today.
Japanese international Ryo Miyaichi has also been released by Arsenal. He has had a series of loan spells, and it never looked like he had the ability to succeed at the club. The pacey winger made 7 appearances for Arsenal, as well as having loan spells at Feyenoord, Bolton, Wigan and FC Twente.
Arsenal have also released five youth players.