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#3 Jack Wilshere (1470 days)
Regarded by many as the most technically gifted English midfielder of his generation, Jack Wilshere was the proper definition of a wonder-kid. The midfielder made his Premier League debut aged 16 in the 2008-09 season for Arsenal before signing a professional contract at the club.
Now 30 years old, Jack Wilshere is currently unattached and training with Arsenal in a bid to keep fit in the hopes of securing a contract with another club. The midfielder has played in less than 50 matches since leaving Arsenal permanently in 2018.
Wilshere's injury problems started in the summer of 2011 when he suffered a stress ankle fracture in a preseason match against the New York Red Bulls. The injury kept him out of action for 17 months, and proved to be the beginning of his woes.
Since making his professional bow, Wilshere has suffered 18 injuries and missed 1,470 days of action. The midfielder has seen his career stagnate as a result of his recurrent injury problems.
#2 Arjen Robben (1507 days)
Arjen Robben had a largely successful career for club and country before his retirement in 2021 at 37 years of age. The winger was one of the best right wingers in the world in his prime, and won titles everywhere he played.
Robben was known for his ability to breeze past defenders with his pace and skills, as well as his ability to find the net with his wand of a left foot. The winger played for Real Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern Munich before his retirement as an FC Groningen player.
Robben suffered a good number of niggling injuries in his career that caused him to miss a total of 1507 days of action. The wing wizard suffered a total of 58 different injuries in throughout his playing career. Despite his injury problems, Robben had a remarkable career and is remembered as one of the Dutch greats.
#1 Abou Diaby (1747 days)
Former Arsenal and France midfielder Abou Diaby is another "what could have been?" kind of player after injuries derailed his career. The midfielder started his playing career in his native France and was a highly-rated youngster.
Diaby moved to the English Premier League in January 2006 and suffered what was described as a career-ending injury in May against Sunderland. Sunderland defender Dan Smith caught him late, resulting in a severe ankle fracture for the youngster. Diaby had to undergo three surgeries and miss eight months of action before he returned. The midfielder suffered a good number of long-term injuries at Arsenal before he was eventually released in 2015. The Frenchman moved to Olympique Marseille after his release, but managed only six appearances before retiring in 2019 aged 32.
Diaby only made 214 appearances in his professional career and missed a total of 1747 days of action with injury. He suffered 21 different injuries in his career before his retirement.
