Parting shot: Mathieu Flamini is expected to leave Arsenal next year

Revealed: Arsenal midfield veteran could be handed new contract

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Published on:

13 Feb 2016, 3:47 pm

By Arsenal correspondent Tony Hughes

Mathieu Flamini has not given up hope of extending his Arsenal contract beyond this season, Football Insider sources understand.

The French midfielder, who turns 32 next month, will be a free agent in the summer when his Gunners deal expires.

Arsene Wenger is planning on a major midfield overhaul at the end of the season, when Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky are also due to end their lengthy associations with the club.

However, an Arsenal source has told Football Insider that Flamini is increasingly hopeful that his performances over the last two months could prompt a U-turn from the Arsenal hierarchy.

Flamini has started 19 matches for Arsenal this season, including 12 in the Premier League, and has been a regular alongside Aaron Ramsey in central midfield in the absence of Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Jack Wilshere and Arteta.

His renaissance is unexpected, given that he was frozen out by the Gunners in the early months of the season and was training with the youth team.

Flamini has spent seven years at Arsenal in two spells, either side of five years at AC Milan.

In other Arsenal news, midfielders Arteta and Rosicky will not be handed extentions and are both considering retiring at the end of the season.

Arsenal

Arsene Wenger

Mathieu Flamini

Mikel Arteta

Tomas Rosicky