Source: Daily_Mail
Kingpin Abou Diaby says Arsenal's current crop can go all the way
Abou Diaby believes Arsenal have enough quality to win the Champions League this season.
The Frenchman is brimming with confidence following his brace during the 4-1 victory against Portsmouth which helped Arsenal maintain their 100 per cent start to the season.
Diaby is desperate to cement his place at the heart of the midfield and show Arsene Wenger he can become the new Patrick Vieira.
Abou Diaby
Midfield heartbeat: Abou Diaby wants to be the new Patrick Viera
Following a superb display against Portsmouth, he will be hoping to keep his place when they face Celtic in the second leg of the Champions League qualifier at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.
After coming away with an impressive 2-0 victory in the first leg, Diaby is confident his team can book their place in the group stages of the competition and make up for the disappointment of last season when they were knocked out by Manchester United in the semi-finals.
Diaby said: 'We talk about winning the Champions League. Arsenal are a big club and deserve to win a big title like the Champions League and as a player you want to win that trophy as well so it’s in our mind.
'I would like to be in United’s place and be in the final. It’s good for them and obviously we want to have the same success.
'We can definitely challenge everyone this season. We are ready to fight and to get something this year. It will be hard against Celtic, they are a good team and now we are focused on this game.
'Everyone knows it will not be easy even after winning the first leg so we will have to be focused to go through.
'We have scored 12 goals in three games, we have confidence and hopefully we can keep going.'
Cesc Fabregas is facing an anxious wait to see how serious his hamstring injury is and Diaby knows this could be the perfect chance for him to nail down his place in the side.
Abou Diaby
Red handed: Diaby says morale is good and that Arsenal can win the Champions League
Diaby added: 'I don’t know what’s happened with Cesc, but we all try to play and do our best for the team. I scored two goals and it’s good to show the manager that the team can score goals from midfield as well as from the strikers.'
As well as winning silverware for Arsenal this season, Diaby is also dreaming of playing for France at the World Cup next summer.
'I want to stay fit, play the maximum number of games and do really well this season,' he said.
'I know it’s a big season for me. The World Cup is in my mind, of course. We have to qualify first but I want to be there and make sure I am in the team.'
