Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes Eduardo da Silva can use the example of Abou Diaby as he fights back from a horror broken-leg injury.

The French midfielder suffered a broken and dislocated ankle at Sunderland in May 2006 and returned eight months later after complicated surgery, a lot of patience and a long, hard rehabilitation.

Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: "We believe the earliest he will play again is nine months.

"That is three months without really putting his foot down and then six months to practise fully, the same as Diaby."