Diaby's return to training is no April Fool

It's probably apt that Abou Diaby's return to training took place today -- April Fool's Day.

The Frenchman has been out since the end of March 2013 after he suffered a cruciate ligament injury in training. He was due back at the end of last year but suffered a setback in his recuperation, yet another addition to the litany of injuries he's suffered throughout his Arsenal career.

It began, as many will remember, at the Stadium of Light in 2006. With Arsenal 3-0 up and with nothing to play for, Sunderland's Dan Smith launched a horrendous injury-time assault on Diaby's right ankle. It left the Frenchman with a fractured and dislocated joint -- such was the severity of the damage that Arsenal considered legal action.

Instead of being part of a squad that traveled to Paris to take part in the Champions League final, Diaby ended up in surgery, plaster, recovery and rehab. It's clear that such tackles would do tremendous damage to a player but twice more, at the feet of Michael Essien and Bolton's Paul Robinson, he's been on the receiving end of challenges that have wrecked his chances of playing consistently.