Mathieu Flamini

Mathieu Flamini (born March 7, 1984 in Marseille) is a France football (soccer) currently playing for Arsenal F.C.. His natural position is defensive midfielder, but he has also been used as a winger (sport) and at Defender (football) Fullback.

Club career

Olympique de Marseille

Flamini was a youth team player for his local professional club Olympique de Marseille. He made his debut for the senior team on 20 December2003 in the 1-0 victory over Toulouse FC. He impressed for the team as a hardworking midfield player playing 14 times for the club. However it was his performances in Marseille’s UEFA Cup campaign that brought him to the attention of the general football world, including the semi-final victory over Newcastle United. He played in the final in Gothenburg which Valencia CF won 2-0. Due to his age, Marseille was unable to offer him a long term professional contract.

Arsenal

On July 23 2004, Flamini signed a professional contract for Arsenal F.C., rejecting Marseille's long-term senior contract offer to which he had already verbally agreed to. Soon after the incident, Marseille manager José Anigo stated, "This is a beautiful treason. He used me."

Flamini made his Arsenal début in the 4-1 win at Everton on 15 August 2004. e has been used as a utility player starting 9 games but being used as a substitute in 12. The following season saw him filling in for a number of injured players, but unable to command a first team place in his favoured location.

While he is naturally a defensive midfielder, he has been used as a right winger. Due to injuries in Arsenal's back line, he has also operated in the fullback (football) position, after injuries to Ashley Cole, Gaël Clichy, Pascal Cygan, Lauren Etame Mayer, Kerrea Gilbert and Sebastian Larsson. However, despite being right-footed, Flamini performed respectably during the remainder of Arsenal's Premiership and UEFA Champions League campaign. When Ashley Cole became fit again, though, he returned to the starting lineup. In May 200,6 he came on as a 76th minute substitute in the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final which Arsenal lost to Barcelona in Paris. In the 2006-07 season, Flamini scored the winner against Dinamo Zagreb in the qualifying stages of the Champions League. He also scored important goals against Chelsea F.C., Blackburn Rovers F.C., and Liverpool F.C. in the Premiership.

In April 2007, Flamini admitted that he would probably be leaving Arsenal F.C by buying out the remaining year on his contract at the end of the current season, citing frustration at a lack of first-team football opportunities; he made only 11 starting appearances at his favoured position of central midfield that season. However, currently he is considering the option of remaining in the Emirates Stadium after a long talk with manager Arsène Wenger. He started in central midfield for Arsenal's first match of the 2007-08 Premier League season, due to the absence of Gilberto Silva and Abou Diaby.

Flamini enjoys a generally good rapport with Arsenal's fans, who have provided him with his own football chant, an adaptation of the theme tune to British television programme The Sweeney.

International career

Flamini accepted his first call up to France national football team by coach Raymond Domenech for a friendly against Argentina national football team at the Stade de France on February 7 2007 after Jérémy Toulalan was ruled out due to injury.

Club career statistics

Honours

Marseille:
- Runners-up
- - UEFA Cup: 2004

Arsenal
- Winner
- - FA Cup: 2005
- - Emirates Cup: 2007
- - Amsterdam Tournament: 2007
- Runners-up
- - UEFA Champions League: 2006
- - League Cup: 2007