Mathieu Flamini, “I had four amazing years with Arsenal and still have good friends”
Arsenal will this afternoon face A.C. Milan in their first Emirates Cup game which will also register the return to the Emirates of former Gunner Mathieu Flamini.
Having spent four years with the Gunners, the Frenchman’s career failed to improve after leaving the North London Club in the summer of 2008. Having failed to make an impact in Italy first under Carlo Ancelotti and then under Leonardo in the Serie A, the 26-year old was also not called for this summer’s 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa.
Under new manager Massimiliano Allegri, Flamini will of course hope to enjoy more regular football, starting this afternoon when he will face his old team mates.
Speaking of his old club, the Frenchman said how it is a pleasure to return to London, adding how he has a lot of nice memories of his time spent with Arsenal. Flamini also revealed that he’s still in touch with some of his old team mates saying how facing them will be something “special”.
He said:
It is always a pleasure to come back to this stadium. I spent a lot of good moments here and have a lot of memories here.
I had four amazing years with Arsenal, great memories and I still have good friends in this team.
I stay in contact with them so for me it is something special and I will enjoy it to the maximum.
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i think he is mistaking if he thinks he has any friends at arsenal now,maybe he does but not with any fans. dont really see him getting a great reception if he even comes on
why everybody is so selfish ………..
everybody gets carried aways by money …..or by big names ………even u would hav don ethe same thing he did……..
he is gud player nad if he returns 2 arsenal he wil play forever at arsenal……..
He left Arsenal to go to a shit old Milan side what big names were there?
Don’t judge everyone by your own standards, and don’t tell people what they would or would not have done. Really annoys me when people speak for others.
The lad is just wasted in Milan. He had such a fantastic time with us, played regular football, gave his maximum and then he decided to chase money. Went on a free transfer. A perfect example of a money grabbing modern day footballer. Flamoney.
he is really flamoney
He thinks he can buy d fans, NO! Mr. bench warmer, its ur decision to leave dont expect any warm reception.
Sorry, I disagree with you. Flamini served Arsenal well and didn’t misbehave at all. Yes, he chose to move on and got a better financial deal. How many of us fans wouldn’t have changed jobs if someone came and offered a better deal?
totally ..whhy dont these guys understand dis!!!!!!!
If Flamini ever thought he would find it easy to compete for places in mid field with the likes of seasoned pros viz: Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini, David Beckham et al then he saw an oasis in the desert. No sooner he reached Milan he was thirsty for first team footy. What is more important for a learning improving professional ? money or chance to perform regularly. Under the circumstances we were in then, Flamini would have had regular first team football, played in his more favoured position and what’s more, he might have even had a strong case for his presence in the French national team. But it all went pear shaped. Also bear in mind he signed for us having previously verbally agreeing with Marseille on a long term contract. He is a much hated man there, not that we should care of anyway. He is a talented footballer, now add frustrated as well.
Cheers.
Exactly. Arsenal waited until the 11th hour to offer him a new deal whereas other players I.e Cesc has been offered multiple.
Well strangely I have been offered better deals and stayed with a job beacuse there’s a hell of a lot more to these decisions, and to life, than just money. Why don’t you understand dis faizan?
he has friends in the squad. that’s a fact jack
A soccer professional player career is short. Maybe 15 yrs if he is fit enough or if not shorten by injury, For this short period of time he has to make as much as possible so as to have enough money after retirement. Those who criticise them as mercenary are wrong . look at Chelsea and they have a certain Dutch player and if I am not wrong Winston …. and he sit out the rest of his contract in the Reserves of Chelsea F C because no one else could afford his salary. You called that mercenary but I prefer the word ‘practical and sensible’ Players come and go and let us not forget that Flamini played his heart out while he was as Arsenal. He deserve a round of applause.
Yes, poor poor top flight soccer players. They really have a hard time making a living. Jumping ship like this is every bit an act we can affiliate with being a mercanary. These are the most recognisd names in the most recognised sport in the world. I find it ludicrous that you can suggest their primary concern is to “have enough money after retirement” – the salaries players at any top club are getting are insane… they have more money then they’ll ever need.
I agree with your comment or I do if the tone was sarcastic, Football players after playing 2 or 3 years in the top flight will have earned more money than 98% of the Global population they could then retire without getting another penny for kicking a ball (apart from the money made from ad’s and endorsements) so, to say that they need to pursue the best money to provide for their family after they retire is a complete pile it is a case of greed and little else (occasionally it is a family matter or some other genuine reason but rarely is this the case). Flamini it was suggested moved because he wasn’t offered a contract extension until the eleventh hour I have a few issues with this firstly it sounds like a hissy fit on Matheu’s part cos he was left out til the last minute, well that may be because nobody realised he wanted to go and most Gooners were expecting the contract extension to be a formality there also seems to be a hint of regret in his statement (I think he wants to come back) and although I have a lot of respect for his performances in an Arsenal shirt, I can’t see how we could take him back, if we did there certainly won’t be a fattened calf slaughtered in the Grove..
This is just so naive. You might just have had a case 20 or more years ago. “really?” and particularly “BrenGunner” have got it spot on for me.
Everyone makes mistakes. Flamini is only 25.
I for one would not mind him back at all!
I think what is important is professionalism then next is money.But to go for money you must have shown the world that you are the best which Flamini did not reach too. People like L. Messi & C. Ronaldo after like three to four years they can go for money Like Hennry & Beckharm. It is good that Fabregas is still at arsenal after showing the world at his best then his free to look for money. His decision to stay is correct.
For Money!
MR.BENCH WARMER(could hav been next MAKELALE) if he listened to Arsene.went for money and destroyed his career with his own hands.@FAIZAN look man he went after Money we understand it.but see after he retires no 1 IN THIs PLANET WILL TALK ABOUT HIM NO 1 WILL REMEMBER HIM.BUT IF HE WENT FOR glory He would hav been Famous.NOW HE IS A KRAP
This is the same Wenger who was about to offload him to Fulham until an injury forced Wenger to play him centre midfield.
He wasn’t really wanted by Wenger (look how he is holding onto Cesc) Flamini deserved better than a last minute contract offer.
Typical Arsenal & Wenger give new contracts to shite and injury prone players but wait and wait to give players like Flamini who ran his nuts off for us a new one.
Wenger’s mind has been going for the past 4 years, wake up. He’s coming to an end at Arsenal
Correct, Marco. Flamini didn’ t feel appreciated by the manager, and took it as a lack of respect and an insult to be offered a contract at the last minute.Maybe he wanted more money, but as he performed so well for us, then he deserved to get more.I would like to have him back, but clueless Wenger doesn’ t seem to think we need another defensive midfielder.
“In Arsene we rust”.
Spectrum, stop signing your posts with “In Arsene we rust”, we understood your point clearly.
Well said jerry. Who is this jack.how would he no if he has,any friends at arsenal. Look Every1 he had a good time with us and he moved on. So don’t boo him if he gets 2 play on sat. Grow up
Jack what planet are you on of cause he does you think everyone has to stay with their employer their life that you can,t change jobs
he never wanted to go he was on 40000 a weak Arsenal offered him another contract on the same money 40 AC offered him 65 he said i don,t want to go but i can,t stay at Arsenal on 40 with that offer but i will stay if you can make it 60 but they said 40 or goodbye so he said goodbye & just 4 all those that say he made a mistake at Arsenal he had to train & play 4 40 at AC he only has to train 4 65000 a weak
PS half the time he isn,t even on the bench he gets his 65 and gets match day off any employer that wants to give me a 60% pay rise to work half as much has got me no 1 could stay in that situation yes the pay rise was a signing on bonus through not having to pay transfer fee just like we did with the new striker but his contract was up Arsenal didn,t have to pay a transfer 4 him he was here but wanted him to resign at same wages with no bonus
he made no mistake in any other period that wouldn,t of happened look at what the side has been over the last 5 years we have had no money whilst paying off the stadium Silvestre on a free Diaby Denilson in no other period in the clubs history would any of them get a game this year there is 35M 4 transfers as against the 15M Wenger has had each year but that has to be spent to keep as is CB,s Gk then next year hopefully we can go forward
he,s getting 110k a week plus its not up to him he wants to go but Arsenal wont let him
@damian i think ur not an arsenal supporter. TALK ONly about arsenal at an Arsenal site or go 2 hell
@damian stop blaming DIABY DENILSON u guys did the same to SONG and BENDTNER they proved u wrong. GUYS LIKE U MAKE ME SICK .enough is enough .DIABY AND DENILSON will rock this season
Well said Law although we are all entitled to our opinion it is not always the right time or the right place to air it.. @ Damien I guess you have not been an Arsenal supporter for very long or you would have realised that we recently moved to a state of the art new stadium which has been draining the resources normally at Wengers disposal, thank goodness your morals are not matched by most of the Arsenal squad if you would change jobs at the drop of a hat regardless of the circumstances,this to me as an employer quite sickening but by your own standards surely it is time to start supporting another club, surely for someone as greedy and self centered as yourself 5 years without silverware must be completely unacceptable,lucky for you then that Chelsea shirts are on sale at the moment as the price is bound to affect your decision on which top 4 club to support, I mean that is basically what you are saying isn’t it?
Spot Law, your comments are right, Flamini probably would love to do a Sol Campbell – I personally never want to see him back at the club, I don’t understand people that say otherwise. He had one good season that has never been repeated anywhere.
it wudnt blame ne players wat so ever …wenger shud take also the blame he is jus so stubborn fine we get all this crap about the youths but all we ask 4 is the blledin obvious a new gk nd a new def fine f we dnt get a new gk at least a new defender ….if we av a good def den our keepers weaknessess wont be exposed ….take a look at chelsea for exampl last year wen cech was “oof form” did any one notice that thats wen chelseas defence were also doin crap so most times it aint the keepers it trhe defence so wud reterded wenger jus hurry da fuk up nd sign a new defender alredi its acc so annoyin
soz 4 the bad spellings
WENGER made arsenal great .HE Developed us and made a great team with minimum resourses we should thank him Rather than blaming him. And keep the faith guys GLORY IS KNOCKING AT THE DOOR. @femi just wait mate a new CB IS on his way . AND HAVARD will make it 5. VERMINATOR.KOSICENLy.DJOURE.???.HAVARD will be enough.AND AS FOR THE GK we made a 2m bid for fulham gk so that means Arsene wants a new gk.@bren gunner thanks for saying all those thing. Hav a good weekend all of u except Damian just joking
When we speak about a transfers we must know something. All Arsenal fans knows that Arsenal Club have other policies from 4-5 big EPL teams. First policy is to keep players with low salary. Personally I don’t blame Flamini bc all we are fighting to live better and all we are trying to make some saving for our future. As i know Flamini had low salary and in the negotations for rising up they have failed to meet his requirements. So, in Flamini case I think that Arsenal had lose more than flamini did. All we know how Flamini was important for Arsenal.
I think FlaMONEY’s best friend is at MANSOUR City now (aka GREEDibayor).
lol.