Arsenal on edge as Deschamps rules Diaby out of France action with muscle injury.

Arsenal's early season optimism has taken a blow after Abou Diaby was ruled out of action through injury.

The France midfielder had been one of the stars of the Gunners' solid start to the season, and backed that up with a match-winning performance in his country's opening World Cup qualifier against Finland.

But now it seems the apparent fragile state of his body has struck again, with Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps revealing a muscular concern means the 26-year-old will miss Tuesday's qualifier at home to Belarus.

The manager said: 'Diaby took a bad shot and he has muscular discomfort. He is not free in his movements.'

The news will come as a blow to the club, who had hoped a strict pre-season regime had finally put pay to years of injury following a career threatening injury in 2006. 

Arsene Wenger is a big fan of his countryman and was as delighted as anybody with the start Diaby made to the season, helping the club to a win and two draws without conceding a goal.

There was, however, a ray of light for Arsenal with summer signing Olivier Giroud given the all clear by Deschamps to play in Tuesday's match.

He added: 'He could play. He trained normally. We can ask questions on pace for 90 minutes.': http://www.dailymail.co.uk/