Arsène Wenger believes Abou Diaby is capable of playing the holding midfield role for Arsenal once he returns to full fitness.

Diaby ruptured knee ligaments in March of 2013.

The Frenchman stepped up his recovery with an hour-long appearance in the League Cup defeat to Southampton on Tuesday night, eight days after playing a full match for the club's Under-21s, and Wenger says he could adapt his game to provide an option at the base of his midfield.

"I tried to develop [Diaby] in a deeper role, I think he can do it. He can be very interesting because he has all the attributes to do it. After, he must love it as well because he's more of an offensive-minded player," Wenger told reporters on Tuesday.

"I try to transform it, yes because I feel because he was injured for a long time and he has the physical potential to win the challenges, to face the game will be easier for him than to play with his back to goal with the injuries he had."