Abou Diaby no closer to return

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that Abou Diaby will not play again in 2012 as he struggles to recover from injury.

Diaby has not played since picking up a thigh problem after 20 minutes against Chelsea in September, despite being initially ruled out for just three weeks.

Wenger admitted that he still cannot put a date on the French international's return and confirmed that he will be unavailable for the Gunners' busy Christmas programme.

When asked for an update on Diaby's progress by the club's official website, the Arsenal boss said: "Slow progress. I cannot give you any fixed date because we are a bit in no man's land on that front.

"He is working. We are waiting for him to come back but he is not ready.

"But over Christmas? Certainly not."

Diaby has been dogged by persistent injury problems since moving to North London as a youngster in 2006.