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Flamini To Wear No.20 Shirt As Wenger Explains Decision To Re-Sign Midfielder

By on August 29, 2013

As expected, Arsenal have announced the re-signing of midfielder Mathieu Flamini on a free transfer this afternoon.

As we reported last night, a deal was agreed on Wednesday to bring the 29-year-old back on board on a permanent basis with Flamini signing a three-year contract.

Upon completing the signing, boss Arsene Wenger has told Arsenal.com why he decided to give the former AC Milan midfielder another chance at the Emirates.

His versatility was highlighted as a key reason and this has to be one of the major positive’s I can think of. Of course he’s not the big-money signing we all crave but he can fill in for both full-back positions as well as in midfield, and that versatility will come in very useful throughout the course of the season.

Wenger described the deal as a ‘no brainer’ and claims that Flamini is in ‘fantastic shape’, but thankfully he said he’s still in the market for new players and hopes to have more new additions in before the window closes.

on why he decided to sign Flamini…

Because he knows how we play football. He knows the Club. He had a huge desire to come back. He was available because he was out of contract and he’s a quality player, and a focused player. Those were all the reasons that pushed me to make that decision.

on if versatility played a role in the decision…

Yes, of course. It’s a very important impact on the squad because he can cover many positions. He can play with everybody in midfield and he knows the game we want to play. He knows the game in general. He’s tactically very shrewd, very focused to win and that’s why the decision was basically a no brainer.

on if he’s the same player that left in 2008…

He’s a bit older but he’s still only 29. The best years are in front of him now – the next three years. Physically, he’s perfect. He was tested, prepared and he’s physically in fantastic shape.

on Flamini only winning three French caps…

I believe when he left us, he got a bit lost because he got injured early on in Milan. When you are off the radar, you are quickly forgotten and other players move in. Maybe he will come back into contention now being with us.

on if he’s looking for more faces…

Yes, of course. When you think that we lost three players of the stature of Arteta, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Podolski for three months basically before the season really starts, it’s very hard to take and we are in a position where you want some more players.

The club confirmed on it’s Twitter account a short time ago that Flamini will wear the No.20 shirt this season, which is the number Johan Djourou used to wear.

He should be registered in time to be eligible to feature against Tottenham on Sunday. I very-much doubt he’ll start but at least we’ll have some experience on the bench.

So that’s two free signings so far this summer. Not the ‘big-money’ deals we were promised at the start of the summer but the club still has four days to put that right. Over to you Arsene….

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What do you think of the re-signing of Flamini?

18 Comments

  1. AMOL

    August 29, 2013 at 3:46 pm

    Wenger said he would add only top top players…

    i see now…top top players are free agents…sanogo free..flamini free..

    where’s all tha $75…kroenke shoved it all up his ass…

    • Kiran Mathews

      August 29, 2013 at 3:55 pm

      Ahh …flamini lot better than cabaye …so its a good addition …u guys saying wenger keeps all the money?? he doesn’t want to win anything? he is a coach who won trained invincible s …he wants to win ….just keep clam ….and support club

  2. dagma

    August 29, 2013 at 4:14 pm

    Those who mock Wenger are not true gunners. The think big money make the winning team! Osh! That’s why they shut up their mouth to comment on Man$hity when they were beaten up by newly promoted Cardiff. they did not say any thing instead they went on criticising our Commander Wenger and our front line solders even after bring three blessing win within seven days.

  3. hokuspokus

    August 29, 2013 at 4:18 pm

    Ah well another freebie just what is this clown playing at? He is scared to spend money show your colours AW and let us see the BIG TRANSFERS THAT YOU AND GAZIDIS PROMISED.i think he is just going to destroy the club….get KLOPP in asap

  4. Sid

    August 29, 2013 at 4:35 pm

    If Flamini was still under contract to AC Milan and the Spuds signed him fo £12 million you would be crying your eyes out.
    Instead Arsene has done a shrewd bit of buisness.

  5. Tony C.

    August 29, 2013 at 5:06 pm

    Nice one Arsene. Fourth place is now guaranteed!!

  6. O2cee

    August 29, 2013 at 5:27 pm

    U guys should neva blame wenger rather blame d foolish American kroenke, wenger dont have a choice daz y he resigned flamini but i dont thing d current squad can bring a trophy rather a top four

  7. yobos

    August 29, 2013 at 5:34 pm

    flamini deal means cabaye is off, now time 4 a cb,cf,gk,n a playmaker of class

  8. Shevy

    August 29, 2013 at 5:36 pm

    Arsenal is where it is 4 d past eight yrs becos we hv lots of foolish fans who can only sit down, fold their hands and watch things go worst.Wen re we eva going 2 stand up as a loving fan n fight against dis manipulations of AW n Arsenal Mgt ?
    Supporting evry rubbish 4rm ur club doesnt make u a true fan.
    It’s a big shame !

    • chivers

      August 29, 2013 at 9:18 pm

      A big shame on your english to!! get back to school retard..

  9. Destiny denniz

    August 29, 2013 at 5:50 pm

    Hahahahahahahag i laugh do anybody knw y? Arsenal s jst lik ma contry dat alwz mek sure dat they do sumtin dat wil mek ppl talk abt them, then again we must surely beat spurs xo wot? Wot if nw ramsey nd wilshere go injury afta d transfer window av close xo wot hapnd? Am jst askin o

    • Sid

      August 29, 2013 at 6:23 pm

      Destiny D..

      I couldn’t quite make head or tail of that so to help you I ran it through a spellchecker.

      Hagiographers I laugh do anybody knew y? Arsenal s just like ma country data laws meek sure data they do summit data will meek Pl talk bat them, then again we must surely beat spurs ox hot? Hot if NW Ramsey ND Wilshire go injury aft d transfer window VA close ox hot happen? Am just asking o

  10. g_beng

    August 29, 2013 at 6:20 pm

    Shevy u r spot on, gullible fans following blindly and can still accuse another fan for not showin support or having faith after 8 trophy less seasons , earlier the problem was lack of funds, but now what do we say the problem is? Lol at how many players we that have moved this window,Mario gomez sold for just 12 million quid, lost higuain cos of 4 million quid,gustavo chose a non-champs league club over arsenal, look at how how suarez was held on to by Liverpool, not willing to sell to a rival club, same for rooney, but we are the only dumb(i must say) club to sell to our ‘rivals’ and not replacing with a suitable striker, and arsenal keeps comparing minute to arsenal saying they’ve not improved their team, how can u make such comparisons, they might decide not to strengthen at all they won the effing league with 20 points ahead of us, 20 effing points(meaning like we lost 6 matches and 1 draw than manutd) in my opinion that’s a huge difference u have to fill up with a suitable ‘top top’ replacement as promised, time is ticking off and less and less(if not none) top players available, wenger must have a top top plan on the cards else this will just be 1 huge waste of a transfer window. Arsene spend! Spend!! Spend!!! IMPROVE THE SQUAD!

  11. g_beng

    August 29, 2013 at 6:24 pm

    Minute=man utd (damn autocorrect)

  12. chivers

    August 29, 2013 at 9:13 pm

    Your manager sure knows how to play the transfer market!! Very shrewd ..

  13. skills

    August 29, 2013 at 10:56 pm

    The fans always turning out large @ d emirates is Arsenal biggest problem. How they pay the most expensive ticket in England and still end the season with no trophy to celebrate about,no big signing to get em going to the stadium like madrid and Barca fans enjoy amuse me.

  14. sunusi abubakar

    August 30, 2013 at 11:02 am

    Am not in support in Both Wenger and Koerenke, they are all with the same idea. Its trophy now or Tragedy for Arsenal.

  15. mergo

    August 30, 2013 at 5:30 pm

    The situation is very clear now. Fans panic but Wenger nt because he is never never never working to win win any trophy but top 4, CL participation and Saving money.He MAD MAD MAD MAD MAD !!!! I wish he dies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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