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Why Arsenal should consider re-signing this former Gunner?

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Marseille academy product Mathieu Flamini famously signed for AC Milan on a free after rejecting a new contract from Arsenal in 2008.

The Frenchman eventually signed a four-year deal worth €22.4 million, which is approximately €100,000-a-week. Arsenal had offered him a contract much lesser than that but Mathieu decided to turn it down. Flamini had already been at the centre of a transfer conspiracy when he made his move from Marseille to Arsenal, during which the French giants even threatened to go to court as well as demand some form of compensation.

Flamini, who is currently recovering from a cruciate ligament injury he sustained in August, is in his final seven months of his contract at Milan. It is well known that it has not been all easy for the tenacious midfielder at the San Siro. In almost three-and-a-half years at the club, he has been restricted to less than 100 appearances – largely down to the fact Milan had surplus midfielders, and Ambrosini was excelling in Flamini’s midfield position.

In his first season at AC, the 28-year-old played most of his games at right-back, which seemed to be the only way in which he could get into the team. Even in Milan’s scudetto winning year (2010/11), Flamini was restricted to less than 30 appearances, which clearly says he’s not a first choice player.

Arsenal currently possess one of the best defensive midfielders in the continent in the form of Alex Song. The back up for him is another Frenchman Francis Coquelin, while Frimpong still not seen as Premier league quality, but is competing for a place in the line-up.

Should Arsenal look to bring back Flamini?

Even though Flamini’s natural position is in a defensive-midfield role, he is a very versatile player who can play across the midfield and also as an emergency wing-back. He was excellent in the left-back position in the 2005/06 season and played a pivotal part in the record-breaking Champions League defence.

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