Arsenal have agreed terms with Mathieu Flamini and the midfielder has signed a three year contract with the club. Flamini, 29, is able to cover in both left and right back as well as defensive midfield and will not cost the club any transfer fee after his contract at AC Milan expired at the end of the season.
The 5ft 10 midfielder left Arsenal in 2008 on a free transfer to join AC Milan, since he has managed 96 games for the Italians despite one injury ravaged season. In his 12 year long career so far Flamini has played for three clubs, Marseille, Arsenal and Milan. Noises frm the club indicate Mathieu impressed with his work-rate and determination in training, enough so for Arsene Wenger to re-sign a former player – something he’s never been too keen on, but his philosophy on that front has changed somewhat over the last 3-4 years, with Lehmann, Henry and Campbell all returning for short spells.
Flamini cannot be compared to either of the three above, he’s still just 29 and a player of his pedigree can continue well into his 30’s with the right mindset. If the Frenchman impresses this season he could well stay on the books of the Gunners beyond this season, and could even re-ignite his International career, to which he has managed just 3 caps to date.
See below some clips from Flamini in 2007-2008 where he impressed heavily. (Skip to 40 secs in)
Flamini’s signing is likely to mean another defender will not join the club before Monday’s deadline. Arsene sees Sagna as a capable centre-back and that Flamini can fill in at full-back on either side. Arsenal’s defensive options will look something like this:
RB – Sagna, Jenkinson, (Flamini), (Ramsey)
CB – Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, (Sagna)
LB – Gibbs, Monreal, (Vermaelen), (Flamini)
Do you think there are enough defensive options for the Gunners? Especially at centre-back, with Ignasi Miquel also out on loan, Isaac Hayden would be next in line to play at the heart of the defence in an injury crisis.
Photo by Jonathan_W (@whatie)