Mathieu Flamini Thread (official)

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

It makes a big difference having a DM that's comfortable on the ball. Remember when United stuck Rooney on Arteta and shut us down. We struggled to get the ball out of our half and we'll have the same sort of problem against high pressing teams. Was watching the City game and Yaya was just immense. Was able to collect from deep areas and just turn and shrug players off to help mount attacks. I remember when Vieira left they did an analysis of on his role of the club and why we miss him. It was the simple stuff. Just collecting the ball from deep and passing it off. It's an important part to our game. It's good to see Flamini back in the squad.

A picture showing average player position on sunday:

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/810698867.png?1379955210

Flamini is positioned perfectly.

[The Ogg Monster]

"Do it again and I'll blind you"

sounds like something out of Taken :haha:

Would even better had he said 'do that again and il find you whilst you're sleeping and cut your throat, rape your wife and burn your children in theyre beds'.

[Power n Glory]

I already know 'the difference' you are talking about, Arteta does tend not to want the ball when in traffic, but the problem was exacerbated by him being the only midfield out ball. Now any one of Wilshere, Ramsey or even Ozil drop deep to pick up the ball.

As I said, no-one has tried marking Flamini, so at present we can't be sure how he would manage that sort of pressure.
The only pointer I can think of was yesterday when Szcez gave him a pass with a couple of orcs around him.
In that instance he did very well to control the ball and come out with possession.

Irrespective of that, relying on your DMs to get out of tight spots is inherently dangerous. Flamini may be well suited to tight games where the opposition press, whereas Arteta may better suit games where possession and controlling tempo is more important, such as in Europe.



Now there's something Arteta probably wouldn't do...

MF Enforcer :bow:

It’s very risky for the DM to have to accept the ball in traffic and tight spots but we’re an attacking team and it’s something I’ve come to expect from a modern day DM. Song was fantastic at dealing with the traffic and it allowed Cesc to roam deeper upfield and stay there. He was confident enough to take on the pressure and pass the ball off safely. At least Arteta is aware of his imitations and isn’t foolish enough to accept the pass under pressure and then get dispossessed. But it also doesn’t help when Ramsey and Wilshere leave massive pockets of space around the field. They core trio don’t play tight enough together. We’re a million miles away from that glorious Old Trafford 1 nil victory. That area needs some fine tuning and we have plenty of options now.

[Boss]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BU2kopdCYAEFYX9.pnghttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/BU2kopdCYAEFYX9.png

:haha: :bow: :haha: :bow:

Finally the kind of player we've lacked, a proper hard man.

So far much better than the 27.5M Fellaini who has looked nowhere near good enough for a top four team. Wenger :bow:

[JonasTC]

:haha: :bow: :haha: :bow:

Finally the kind of player we've lacked, a proper hard man.

So far much better than the 27.5M Fellaini who has looked nowhere near good enough for a top four team. Wenger :bow:

Any youtube clips of him walking up to him? Awesome if true :bow:

[BOBN]

Any youtube clips of him walking up to him? Awesome if true :bow:
Look, it didnt happen. But that doesnt take was from the fact hes started well.

[Master Splinter]

:bow:

Best value for no money ever?

Flamini > Ozil so far tbfh.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Will certain posters finally admit Flamini offers much more than Arteta in pretty much every department? Or shall we keep pretending Arteta is superior?

[Dennis Bendtner]

Will certain posters finally admit Flamini offers much more than Arteta in pretty much every department? Or shall we keep pretending Arteta is superior?

Can't deny it's working very well with Flamini and Ramsey there. Also noticeable that we have adapted our approach so we are not necessarily trying to dominate possession, thus Flamini's shortcomings in this regard are less exposed. I said in another thread that Ramsey's role had changed since last year but in truth it hasn't really. He is a proper all-round CM. So right now the Flamini-Ramsey combination has a good balance and is serving the team very well.

[selassie]

Flams has started the season very well and is growing into his role, love his spirit, real grafter that does the dirty things well.

[Ollie the Optimist]

Flamini's ultra cynical foul to break up a Swansea counter was a thing of beauty. Just took the player out.

He's a warrior amd a fighter and I love it. Another good game from him yesterday

[tpyo]

So our best signing this season is a free transfer? :D

I'm genuinely amazed at how well Flamini has been playing, it's like that time at AC Milan never happened.

[AFC Leveller]

Credit where its due, i didnt want gim back after the way he walked out on the club but his performances so far have bene first class. Pure passion and works so hard.

Arteta will have to get cosy on that bench by the looks of it.

[Ollie the Optimist]

seen this on twitter, this has to be flamini's chant


he's french, hes free, he'll break your fucking knee

:haha:

[Munchies]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvSHDnwZCL8

Wenger :bow:
Flamini :bow:

Fellaini :pal:
Me :doh:

[selassie]

Credit where its due, i didnt want gim back after the way he walked out on the club but his performances so far have bene first class. Pure passion and works so hard.

Arteta will have to get cosy on that bench by the looks of it.

Yep me too, didn't want him.

He really has surprised me with his performances TBH, not only does he graft and bark orders, he's actually contributing offensively/technically too.

I love him, what a beast!

[Marc Overmars]

Always thought he was a useful player just very underwhelmed by the signing during those dark pre-Özil days. However now it appears to be a very shrewd move from Wenget.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

seen this on twitter, this has to be flamini's chant



:haha:
Beautiful :d

He provides the sort of depth we never should have done without really. The line up yesterday was ostensibly a cautious one with both Arteta and Flamini in there and no wingers but the team performed brilliantly. The fluidity in attack is great. Apart form Arteta and Flamini you can't tell where on earth anyone else is supposed to be playing.

[torontogooner]

So our best signing this season is a free transfer? :D

I'm genuinely amazed at how well Flamini has been playing, it's like that time at AC Milan never happened.

:gp:

[Bumble]

i was very sceptical about the signing but he has proved good value for money

[torontogooner]

i was very sceptical about the signing but he has proved good value for money

He was always feisty, a take no shit and prisoners type of player, excellent addition to the team. Merte, Kos and Vermaelen have always been somewhat docile, Flam adds a steely edge.

[PGFC]

i was very sceptical about the signing but he has proved good value for money

Ouch.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

:d Chortle

[I am invisible]

Squawka (http://squawka.com/news/2013/10/02/mathieu-flamini-napoli/2013100223807) is claiming that Flamini had a 100% tackle success rate against Napoli, as well as a 96% pass completion success rate! Don't know if that's completely accurate or not (I can't imagine he went the whole game without fouling anyone, unless fouls count as successful tackles?), but even if they're a few percent out, it's still impressive.

Another interesting stat from Le-grove (http://le-grove.co.uk/2013/10/03/arsenal-and-the-hailo-effect-of-a-big-buy-the-youth-player-incident/) this morning - apparently we've only lost 1 of the last 34 games we've played with Flamini in the side...

[Syn]

Squawka (http://squawka.com/news/2013/10/02/mathieu-flamini-napoli/2013100223807) is claiming that Flamini had a 100% tackle success rate against Napoli, as well as a 96% pass completion success rate! Don't know if that's completely accurate or not (I can't imagine he went the whole game without fouling anyone, unless fouls count as successful tackles?), but even if they're a few percent out, it's still impressive.

Another interesting stat from Le-grove (http://le-grove.co.uk/2013/10/03/arsenal-and-the-hailo-effect-of-a-big-buy-the-youth-player-incident/) this morning - apparently we've only lost 1 of the last 34 games we've played with Flamini in the side...

What was the game?
Liverpool in the CL? Can't remember us losing many in the league that season.

[Marc Overmars]

Yeah that Liverpool game was his last match for us as he went off injured. We only lost 3 league games that season but bombed in the last 3 months. :(

I'm sure he synically chopped someone down against Napoli so that 100% tackle rate is probably not true. It brought about some hearty laughter from the GHELs I was sitting with.

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

That game was well over 5 years ago. 5 years!

Fuck I'm getting old :crying:

[LDG]

That game was well over 5 years ago. 5 years!

Fuck I'm getting old :crying:

It was never a penalty :(

[Marc Overmars]

This season is 10 years since the Invincibles. Now that really makes me feel old.

My mate who's a teacher always tells his kids about how good Arsenal were as they have little recollection of the pre-Emirates era and have grown up thinking we were always shite...

[Munchies]

Damn , remember jumping around when Feo done that run for the cunt :(

How the fuck has it gone so fast ? Can't believe we got another world cup round the corner aswell .

[Munchies]

This season is 10 years since the Invincibles. Now that really makes me feel old.

My mate who's a teacher always tells his kids about how good Arsenal were as they have little recollection of the pre-Emirates era and have grown up thinking we were always shite...

I remember going on some school project to Highbury around then and the only player they got us to meet was Rami Shabaan :doh:

[Shaqiri Is Boss]

It was never a penalty :(

:ninja:

I was off in the kitchen somewhere in despair. I've still never seen the build up to the penalty.

Kolo still makes exactly the same shocked face now :lol:

[LDG]

This season is 10 years since the Invincibles. Now that really makes me feel old.

My mate who's a teacher always tells his kids about how good Arsenal were as they have little recollection of the pre-Emirates era and have grown up thinking we were always shite...

And yet you probably won't remember us at our finest in 92/93.

What a year that was.

[Marc Overmars]

And yet you probably won't remember us at our finest in 92/93.

What a year that was.

I've heard wonderful things about that period.

[Özim]

And yet you probably won't remember us at our finest in 92/93.

What a year that was.

Yup 2 trophies no less, beat Sheff Wednesday twice, in the 1st one Morrow broke his arm in the celebrations and in the 2nd Andy Linighan scored a last minute extra time winner in the replay to win it for us!

What a season it was! :cloud9:

[I am invisible]

Yup 2 trophies no less, beat Sheff Wednesday twice, in the 1st one Morrow broke his arm in the celebrations and in the 2nd Andy Linighan scored a last minute extra time winner in the replay to win it for us!

What a season it was! :cloud9:

Beating the spuds in the semi was the best bit - revenge for 90/91!

[Munchies]

I've never really known any period before Wenger (apart from reading up on it ofc)

Wenger :bow:

I hope we win something, would be funny going over the summer posts on here in hindsight.

[Bumble]

Yup 2 trophies no less, beat Sheff Wednesday twice, in the 1st one Morrow broke his arm in the celebrations and in the 2nd Andy Linighan scored a last minute extra time winner in the replay to win it for us!

What a season it was! :cloud9:
I was at that replay although opposite end to where the goal was scored. Remember walking back to the station and there were shops with TVs on replaying the goal and big cheers going up.

[Özim]

Beating the spuds in the semi was the best bit - revenge for 90/91!

Yeah that was great too!

[AFC Leveller]

Flamini is also vocal and isnt afraid to bark orders at his team mates.

excellent signing.

[Letters]

Yup 2 trophies no less, beat Sheff Wednesday twice, in the 1st one Morrow broke his arm in the celebrations and in the 2nd Andy Linighan scored a last minute extra time winner in the replay to win it for us!

What a season it was! :cloud9:
P42 W15 D11 L16 F40 (:lol:) A38

:patrice:

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Yeah that Liverpool game was his last match for us as he went off injured. We only lost 3 league games that season but bombed in the last 3 months. :(

I'm sure he synically chopped someone down against Napoli so that 100% tackle rate is probably not true. It brought about some hearty laughter from the GHELs I was sitting with.
What's a Ghel?

[GP]

What's a Ghel?

A Good Honest English Lad

[GP]

P42 W15 D11 L16 F40 (:lol:) A38

:patrice:

Imagine having that season now.

:ilt:

[Letters]

A Good Honest English Lad
It should be pointed out, for our AHFC refugees, that a GHEL doesn't neccessarily have to be English.
It's more of a state of mind.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

:gp:

Flamini is a GHAEL.

Good honest animalistic english lad.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Cheers fella's. I seem to be the only ahfc poster asking all these questions. Makes me feel like I should already know what this all means!

[Letters]

Imagine having that season now.

:ilt:
We finished 7 points above the relegation zone. Our run from mid-November onwards was:
P27 W6 D9 L12 during which we scored 18 goals.

There were a few really good moments but overall it was Boring Boring Arsenal at their Boring Boring Arsenalest.

[Letters]

Cheers fella's. I seem to be the only ahfc poster asking all these questions. Makes me feel like I should already know what this all means!
Aye, sorry. Quite a few GWisms have arisen, maybe we should create a GWictionary.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

sagan = sagna
cafu = jenkinson
cisc = cesc
GHEL = good honest english lad
wumger/wenget = when wenger does something silly that resembles his awful tenure from 2005-2013
charlie = the name of the best poster we've ever had. Unfortunately his time came to an abrupt end in April, after it transpired that contrary to popular belief, he could not do it on a cold rainy night in Stoke. In other words, you've had a shocker.

plenty more. Cant remember the rest.

[GP]

We finished 7 points above the relegation zone. Our run from mid-November onwards was:
P27 W6 D9 L12 during which we scored 18 goals.

There were a few really good moments but overall it was Boring Boring Arsenal at their Boring Boring Arsenalest.

18 goals in 27 games :haha:

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I surmised the rest....except Cisc. That is peculiar.

I won't judge too much. My use of silly names in place of actual names extends beyond football and well into my actual life.

I took a wrong turn and found myself in your WAG thread too which was equally eye opening shall we say.....

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

http://www.heberger-image.fr/data/images/93652_Gif295.gif

[Özim]

P42 W15 D11 L16 F40 (:lol:) A38

:patrice:
League isn't everything to be honest. That year we played weakened teams in the league to save them for the cups.

I have fond memories of that season, winning two cups was exceptional and the matches were edge of your seat stuff.

[Letters]

Maybe at the end we did. For most of it we were just shit. And boring.

[Özim]

Maybe at the end we did. For most of it we were just shit. And boring.

Spurs played great football and won f*ck all for years, I'm pretty sure they would have swapped.

People slag off George Graham sides and belittle what he achieved, before him we were nowhere, he wasn't perfect by any stretch but he still provided some great moments for the fans.

I've experienced equally boring football under Wenger as well, when we overpassed the ball to no effect and were as predictable as you could be, that was also very dull and use to put me to sleep, so they both had their bad times.

[Letters]

I'm sure armchair glory-hunters thoroughly enjoyed it

Those of us who had to sit through loads of shit remember it a bit more realistically although the end of the season was brilliant.

[Özim]

I'm sure armchair glory-hunters thoroughly enjoyed it

Those of us who had to sit through loads of shit remember it a bit more realistically although the end of the season was brilliant.

and yet you've enjoyed the some of sh*t Wenher has served up, which was some of the most boring stuff I've ever seen (I'm referring to the boring football we have played in recent years at times, with no passion or intelligence on the field seemingly).


The football wasn't perfect and the league season maybe have been rubbish, but we won two cups and the cup runs were pretty exciting, so it's not that bad.

[Letters]

and yet you've enjoyed the some of sh*t Wenher has served up.
No I haven't.

[Marc Overmars]

I surmised the rest....except Cisc. That is peculiar.

I won't judge too much. My use of silly names in place of actual names extends beyond football and well into my actual life.

I took a wrong turn and found myself in your WAG thread too which was equally eye opening shall we say.....

Most are just awesome typo's that stuck.

GW memes. :bow:

[Letters]

Bif sexy = Giroud (think that was a typo on Big sexy)

[Xhaka Can’t]

Spurs played great football and won f*ck all for years, I'm pretty sure they would have swapped.

People slag off George Graham sides and belittle what he achieved, before him we were nowhere, he wasn't perfect by any stretch but he still provided some great moments for the fans.

I've experienced equally boring football under Wenger as well, when we overpassed the ball to no effect and were as predictable as you could be, that was also very dull and use to put me to sleep, so they both had their bad times.

I don't think anyone is belittling GG sides. They were a product of their time and at times were so exciting and momentous, there was a successful book and film based on one of the seasons.

But 92/93 was turgid.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Flamini has lost one of his last 42 league games with Arsenal (v Chelsea, March 2008).

Arteta :haha:

[Penguin]

Flamini was in a better side for most of that

[selassie]

Gutted that Flams is going to be out for next 3 weeks, we needed him more than any other Midfielder for the Liverpool, Dortmund and Man Utd games IMHO.

Oh well..I am sure we will survive without him.

[cricketsi]

Flamini is likely to miss matches against Liverpool, Dortmund and Manure? Looks to be the derailing of our season... Oh well, good while it lasted!

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Mertesacker has been speaking to Honigstein, the European journo.

Apparently Mertesacker loves Flamini. Loves the way he protects the back four and organises those around him. Views him as essential to the team.

Good to have a proper DM in the team.

[Munchies]

Mertesacker has been speaking to Honigstein, the European journo.

Apparently Mertesacker loves Flamini. Loves the way he protects the back four and organises those around him. Views him as essential to the team.

Good to have a proper DM in the team.

Yeah, we needed to replace him properly ever since he left really, I'd rather have him than Arteta, but Wenger prefers Arteta

[Bumble]

Yeah, we needed to replace him properly ever since he left really, I'd rather have him than Arteta, but Wenger prefers Arteta

i mocked the flamini signing at the time as it just seemed a bit of convenience instead of a well thought out plan but you throw in Ozil for £40m and suddenly it becomes a great move as it allowed us to spend big on a superstar.

[Fist of Lehmann]

Flamini is likely to miss matches against Liverpool, Dortmund and Manure? Looks to be the derailing of our season... Oh well, good while it lasted!

:lol:

Nope.

[Syn]

Mortified for you, cricketsi. That was vpgreg-esque.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

http://ed_wp-content_v2.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ibkBezRvDfGBiC.gif

[cricketsi]

Mortified for you, cricketsi. That was vpgreg-esque.

What, it worked didn't it? Unfortunately I couldn't quite drag us to victory over Man Utd, but was a decent effort I thought.