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Mathieu Flamini Has Done Something For Arsenal That No One Else Could
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal faced off against Tottenham in the League Cup and after an enthralling affair, they won. But it was not at the feet of Olivier Giroud, Alexis Sanchez, Aaron Ramsey or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. It was at the feet of a man who was written off from the Arsenal squad: Mathieu Flamini.
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Mathieu Flamini did something no one else on Arsenal has been able to do this entire season. And I don’t mean score goals, although that plays into it. He stepped up. He made a statement. He capitalized on his chances. He reacted to the situation.
No one on Arsenal has done that. Alexis Sanchez has fired 31 shots and not scored. Olivier Giroud has been red-carded and lost the starting role. Theo Walcott continues to start but continues to be unable to put the ball in the net. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has made a strong impact in some matches but in others his first-touch betrays him and he is unable to mount much. Aaron Ramsey’s inconsistency has struck again as well.
And then there is Mathieu Flamini. Flamini was done, sold and out of the club. He was going to be frozen out. But when Arsene Wenger put him in the starting XI to face Tottenham, Flamini made a decision. He decided that he was not going to be like everyone else on the team. He decided to make a difference and capitalize on his chances. Flamini fired 2 shots all game. Both were on target and both found the net. The first could be chalked up to a fortuitous bounce but he did popped up in a goal-scoring position.
The second was much more whimsical. A high ball was taken on the hop and deposited into the bottom corner for the winner. Who else on this team could have scored like that? I do not think I stand alone when I say that with the form this team was in, I do not think anyone else on the team could have scored that goal the way Flamini did. Giroud would have scuffed it. Walcott would have chipped it straight into the keeper’s arms. Ramsey would have skied it and Alexis would have hit the post. Mesut Ozil would have probably passed it. But not Flamini, Flamini won the game with it.
With it, Flamini became Arsenal’s top-scorer on the year. Let that sink in for a bit. With 2 shots, Flamini became our leading scorer. That is not just a testament to the grit and determination of Mathieu Flamini but it is a testament to Arsenal’s terrible, rotten, no good, very bad start to the season. And lets not forget what else Flamini did. He led the team with 4 interceptions and chipped in two tackles as well. His ferocity was apparent. He was not going to fall into complacency like everyone else.
This is what Arsenal’s internal competition is supposed to look like. Flamini was counted out of the team so he made the absolute most out of the opportunity he was given. It was supposed to work that way for more than just Flamini, but it has not. So many Arsenal players do not feel the urgency that Flamini did in the League Cup. They do not feel a sense of ‘I better do something, this may be my last chance.’ They don’t feel that way for a multitude of reasons. First of all Wenger will not sit Alexis, Ramsey, Ozil, or the like. It is not just a matter of faith, it is a matter of not having anyone else.
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But that is a problem we must confront without the transfer window for the time being. Perhaps Mathieu Flamini’s performance was enough to slap his team mates in their collective face and make them feel threatened. If Flamini can step up, why can’t Joel Campbell or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain? Guys who are relaxing on the bench regularly need to follow Flamini’s example. They have to treat each match like it is their last. That is the only way that this Arsenal team can deal with their current situation without transfers.
Now, after one performance, it already feels like Flamini should be starting. Ahead of Ramsey, ahead of Santi Cazorla, ahead of someone. That fire that he provided has been missing for too long. This is not an overreaction. It is the perfect chance for Wenger to make a statement: Perform well and you will be noticed and you will be rewarded with a starting place.
Next: Arsenal's Predicted Starting XI To Face Leicester