Earlier today, it was announced that Portsmouth had completed the signing of French international midfielder Lassana Diarra from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee. And while the signing is mixed news for Arsenal fans it can only be viewed as a huge positive for followers of Portsmouth.

The young Frenchman has quick feet on the ball, is sharp in the tackle and possesses the speed and dynamism to add a dimension to Portsmouth and propel them towards a UEFA Cup spot this season. A number of strong sides stand in their way, particularly Everton and Manchester City, but Diarra may give Portsmouth the edge they need to make the step up.

Diarra will wear the #14 at Portsmouth and should make his debut this weekend against Derby County. While they shouldn't really need him in the side to ensure they grab the three points his inclusion in the coming weeks while the four Africans are away will be invaluable. Indeed, by the time they come back he could be one of the leading midfielders in England.

I'll certainly be interested to see how things pan out. What do you think?

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