Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini has revealed that he loves doing the dirty work for the club, and doesn’t mind that he’s never in the spotlight.
The Frenchman rejoined Arsene Wenger’s side in the Summer, much to the surprise of many fans, but several months later, he has quickly become a fan favourite once again and crucial to Arsenal’s success this season.
Flamini is deployed as the club’s holding-midfielder playing behind the likes of Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but the Frenchman insists that he doesn’t mind doing the dirty work.
“My most important job on the pitch is to protect the back four and it is not easy, especially when the other team is focused offensively and has so many players of real quality,” Flamini told Arsenal Player.
“I try to stay in front of the back four, to protect Koscielny and Mertesacker. I’m also trying to co-ordinate between defence and attack, because what is important in football is to attack together and defend together.
“The team is so offensive, everyone goes forward and that is part of the characteristic of Arsenal. We play football based on attacking very quickly; that is the beauty of our game.
“At the same time we have to make sure we don’t face any counter-attacks and stay very high so we can get the ball back when we lose it. It is always much easier to defend when the team is very high.
“When I play with any of the boys in midfield I have to sit in front of the defence and do the dirty work but I enjoy doing it. My pleasure is to give them the possibility to attack and, when we lose the ball, to get it back as quickly as possible.”
The 29-year-old also spoke about how communication is key in his role, and that is why he is so vocal all the time.
“It is good to have someone who gives you some help, someone to talk to you, it is very important,” he said. “I am trying to help my partners, to speak to them and also get them to speak because football today is all about communication.”
