Mathieu Flamini Thread (official)

[Cripps_orig]

Flamini delighted to be 'back home'

The Frenchman rejoined the club on a free transfer following his release by AC Milan and explains that it feels as if he has never been away

Mathieu Flamini has expressed his delight at rejoining Arsenal, admitting that playing in Sunday’s north London derby victory was like returning home.

The 29-year-old spent the summer training with the Gunners following his release from AC Milan, eventually signing a contract with the club at which he had previously enjoyed four successful seasons.

The Frenchman was signed in time to make a substitute appearance in the 1-0 win over Tottenham, and says he has found it easy to slot back into life at the Emirates Stadium after five years away.

"I really have the sensation of being back home. Playing against Tottenham in a big derby, it was a great emotion, a great feeling,” he told the club's official website.

“Playing against Tottenham is never easy but it is special for the club, for the fans and for the players.

"Of course, for me it was my first game and I wanted to show everyone how committed I am to this club, how I am ready to give everything on the pitch. I hope everyone saw it; I really did my best when I came on.

“I have heard it a lot [that it is like I have never been away]. I feel like I never left.

"There are players I played with before, and even staff, there are a lot of people still here that I knew before and the [relationship] with the fans was just amazing. I just want to thank everyone for the nice atmosphere on Sunday. It was great.”

Flamini was Arsene Wenger’s second summer signing following fellow free transfer Yaya Sanogo’s arrival at the club, but has since been joined by on-loan goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano and €50 million man Mesut Ozil.

The midfielder has been impressed with the quality of his team-mates, and believes everything in place for the Gunners to enjoy a successful season.

“The quality is very high in this team and at this club,” he continued. “That is the most important thing, to have players of quality because that makes a difference.

“The team spirit is also very good, and we saw on Sunday that everyone was helping each other on the pitch. That makes a difference in the big games.”

Proof players read GW

Good to have him home

[Syn]

"My fitness levels are still very good," Flamini told Arsenal Player. "After what [fitness coach] Tony Colbert told me after some speed tests, I am quicker than I was five years ago.

"It was funny because we made a joke that it was like wine, getting better with age. I still feel very fresh.

"I would say I evolved [in Italy]," he went on. "I'm 29 now, I played a lot of games in Italy and I had the chance to discover a new championship like the Italian league, based on a lot of tactical aspects because there is not a lot of space so I think it made my game evolve.

"I think I'm much better tactically because being in Italy for five years you learn a lot of tactical things in training, what you know is your position on the pitch. Afterwards with your age you read the game better so for your position this is important.

"Serie A is much more tactical than the English league. The English league is much quicker and physical and the intensity is very high from the beginning to the end. In Italy there is less space and that's why you don't have as many goals as you do in England.”

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-arc...rove-with-age-

I guess all that talk of tactics is supposed to make us believe him shouting and pointing in the NLD made a big difference. Also interesting to note he is supposed to be quicker than he was 5 years ago.

But can he start 40 games for us this season? That's more important for us given the qualities he has.

[Master Splinter]

The new Tactregas?

[Syn]

Possibly. Although at least he's using his priviledged tactical education with us.

It's just a shame the old tactregas has morphed into statregas.

[Fist of Lehmann]

Was going to make this self same point infactually.

Italian football is more tactical, and more defensive. It's not like the Crash, Bang, Wallop of the Premiership.
They like nothing better than a good old tactical 0-0, it's the perfect place for a DM to learn the trade.

All the shouting in the NLD was most likely him going: "What in fuck are you doing?"

[Munchies]

He was pretty much everywhere today, glad to have him back .

[Master Splinter]

Ramsey was everywhere too. It's why having a generic DM is redundant in a team like ours. If you have good footballers like Flamini, Arteta, Ramsey, Wilshere and Rosicky who can cover a lot of ground, work hard defensively as well as contributing to the forward play, it's a much more effective option than having a scrote to break up play and do the water-carrying. It's why Bender was a potentially great signing and someone like Gustavo would have been a big "meh". Not that we were ever in for Gustavo outside the world of daily internet transfer bullshit.

[Syn]

I love having a DM destroyer. Tactmini is very limited on the ball. But where Ramsey and Wilshere can be pulled all of the place, it's important to have someone like Flamini or Arteta who have better awareness and can cover the space. Today nobody held a fixed position and it worked (especially in the first half) but we generally need some shape when playing against top half teams.

Ideally we'd have someone quicker, angrier, blacker and leg-breakier than Flamini and Arteta but they'll do the job. Good thing about Flamini is he can also cover at LB or RB. Who gives a fuck if he doesn't like it - what's he going to do? He's got a 3 year contract.

[Master Splinter]

Frimpong.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

He's only a destroyer of the English language.