Arsene Wenger has played down the seriousness over Abou Diaby's latest injury, claiming the midfielder could even be fit for Arsenal's Barclays Premier League game against Southampton this weekend.

Diaby, who spent almost the whole of last season on the sidelines, hurt his hip after scoring the winner in France's 1-0 victory in Finland on Friday.

The 26-year-old missed his country's win over Belarus yesterday as a result, but Gunners boss Wenger told TF1: "He has slight pain on the hip, on the sartorius muscle.

"It doesn't seem serious at all to me. He even has a small chance to play on Saturday."

Diaby has begun the season in fine form and reports in France suggest he will miss Arsenal's game on Saturday game but return in time for Tuesday's opening Champions League clash against Montpellier.

PA