Many ex-Arsenal players have gone on to struggle at new clubs. Arsene Wenger has an uncanny knack for letting a player go just as their career peaks. It happened with the likes of Patrick Viera and Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas (despite performing well) joined Barcelona just as Real Madrid surged back into prominence. Whilst Manchester City’s Samir Nasri seems to break the mould a little bit (damn you Sammy!) he may well be the exception which proves the rule. Take for instance, Mathieu Flamini’s torrid time with AC Milan since he left the club back in 2008.
Last season Flamini expected to walk back into Milan’s side after a knee injury kept him benched for a couple of months. However he struggled to break back into the side and soon lost patience: “The story about my knee injury is old. If I am not playing, it is not because of my knee, but because of the choices of the coach, who I respect. But I want everyone to know this: I am not broken. No one at the club has given me an explanation.
Allegri? I do not talk to him much. What I know is that I am at 100 per cent and that I cannot play because the coach is making other choices. I want to play.”
It’s a pretty sad situation for a player who was once regarded as one of European football’s best defensive midfielders. Despite a few periods of prominence, Flamini has often found himself sidelined at Milan. He’s been itching to play but hasn’t had the chutzpah to break through an re-establish himself.
As things stand his contract is set to expire this summer. Reports suggest that Milan have offered him a new contract but that it’s way under his personal evaluation. This combined with his lack of action has led to the suggestion that he’ll shun Milan and look for a move elsewhere. So here’s an interesting question for Arsenal fans to mull over. Given that he’d be available on a free, should the Gunner’s attempt to bring him back to the club? He’s noted in recent times that he wants to play Champions League football and as when he left back in 2008 he claimed: “Arsenal are in my heart and they will be in my heart forever. I will always be an Arsenal fan and leaving was not easy.” At 28-years-old he surely had plenty left to give.
At the moment he risks facing a similar fate to Alex Hleb who faded into obscurity after joining Barcelona. I for one, would love for Arsene to hand him a life line. With the right level of game time and confidence placed in him, I could see him rediscovering his best form. He’d also act as competition for Alex Song, who isn’t that reliable defensively. Whilst I’d prefer to see Yann M’Vila turn up at the Emirates, Flamini may make for a cheaper but still effective alternative.
What’s your take? Would you have Flamini back at the Emirates?
Introducing the neat little app that’ll pay you to view content tailored to your interests:
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.
Hell NO!
Absolutely NEVER!!! Traitor, go away and rot on some bench somewhere. i would happily keep Denilson than have flashit back
No WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY. Bye forever Flamini.
FUCK THAT!
No will don’t want him is a betrayer,he let us when will need his service most so will don’t need ???o do him any favour for me will don’t want.
@least..they dont have money to buy..let them b searching for free transfer players..dts dr level…
I wouldnt take any of them back…..they knew what that were getting in to when they left…and Flamini started it all.
Hell no!!!!!
He chose to leave, left us in the cold, he didn’t think twice about this. No chance why should we bail him out….
He is an AC player and should be just fine there, please!
i tinkin we shld reconsider him,henry went n came back to arsenal so we shld juz ve mercy on him,as we all know dat all dose dat one way or d oda leave arsenal dey are regretin now, hleb,n others dey r regretin.
I took ú? point guy let us consider hin he has regreted his action pls remember in his qoute “Arsenal in ?????
????
? heart 4eva pls Wenga take him bak I love d guy
De JONG, Henry left on good will, just as Vieira, Pires, Campbell and Ljungberg. Flamini left at the time when the club needed him most, JUST LIKE Nasri. I hate players who hurt Arsene Wenger especially after molding them into world class stars.
I think not. Traitor.
U said it de grass is not always greener on the other side. He had 1 good season with us and then decided to leave, we had Diarra who we bought from Chelsea – who in my opinion is better than Flamini and when Flamini got injured Diarra came in and done a fine job in our midfield but once Flamini came back into the side straight away Diarra got frustrated and leave and went to Portsmouth and Flamini left the same season to go to Milan. Regretted losing Diarra more than Flamini, let him rot on de bench at Milan and no I would not want him back at Arsenal even on a free.
I loved him in an Arsenal shirt and as much as I want to say we should get him,I cant say it,It just doesnt sound right.I had the same thoughts about Hleb when he was at Birmingham,he looked so sad but I still could not say i want him at Arsenal again.
if our manager want him yes will support him
Oh what a pathetic lot….Flamini was outstanding in his final
year with us…the first year in which AW had selected him in his right position and as a first tem regular.
He left to better himself….have none of you done likewise in your careers? That he made an error should be a cause for sympathy, not gloating or meanness.
Martin Keown left us and went to a league rival, but in due course returned and once again became an outstanding Arsenal player. He wasn’t the first one to do so, and not the last either.
Flamini played superbly in that final season and formed a great partnership with Cesc. We need a strongman in our midfield and I’d welcome him back like a shot…..if he still has the energy and drive he showed previously.
Pls ?? guys should let us remember somtin dat life is up ?? down he(flamini) has regreted 4 his uncomfortable move 4rm emerate pls let us consider him pls Wenga take him bak I jst love his playin ambition
yes defo
this lad hads punk and was never beaten he got us to a champions final but was dropped for cashly for hat final.
aresenal treated him shoddily and his contract offer was given as a substitute rather than a first team player.
he was good for us and although i want m’villa, i would welcome flamini back
No way. As a previous poster said, this guy showed no loyality tp Arsenal. We lost Diarra because of him. If Wenger knew this dude was not going to sign, he would have kept him on the bench and played Diarra. He instead play Flamoney and we ended up losing both. Keep in mind this guy was on the french national team while at Arsenal. HE has gone into oblivion. Now you are saying we take him back to help him regain his status? No way. If we alk about footballing terms, who will he replace, Song? Song is much better, MVIA(IF we ger him), hell no. If he had stayed at Arsenal, he would still be on the nation team, earned two increases in his salary and earned more money through endorsements with high visibility. He only thought about himself and it backfired. Karma is a Btch, huh?
No until we sign M’Vila
Emirate is not a refugee camp. Let him remain there, please