Does Flamini realise that he’s being disloyal to Arsenal?

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This came out a couple of hours after my daily news roundup, so I wasn’t able to write about it earlier.

Here’s the bottom line - Flamini has told L’Equipe he wants out from Arsenal, and I think he’s a stupid, stupid kid who should have kept his mouth shut.

He’s stupid because when you’re part of a club you should be loyal to it. That means that you don’t tell the media that you’ve talked to your lawyer about buying out your contract. No, not even when the media asks you why you haven’t been playing in the first-team after featuring so much last season.

After last season it’s a shame (for the player, not for Arsenal) that he’s not part of the first team. Arsene Wenger has a few plans in place (which aren’t really working out, if you ask me) and currently Flamini is not at the center of those plans. He has played 20 games this season, so some might wonder if he’s just being a pissy brat.

I’ve read Flamini’s interview on L’Equipe (the original makes for better reading than the Sky Sports one, believe me), and reading it clears out a few things. Most importantly, you realise that there’s nothing to sensationalise about, just some comments from a player worried about his future and worse, not seeing things work out at Arsenal.

Flamini wants to leave Arsenal because he doesn’t see himself being a key part of the team, and he doesn’t see himself winning titles with the team. You can bash me for saying that all you want, but it’s Flamini I’m psycho-analysing, remember? He’s frustrated at not being a regular part of the team and he thinks it’s harming his international career as well.

Considering that he’s half-Italian and considering that he’s talking about this so freely with the media, I figure that Flamini has had this on his mind for a while. However, I don’t think that either Inter or AC Milan will take him up Juventus? Possibility, but he should probably aim a bit lower than that.

What does it mean for Arsenal?

I doubt that Wenger would be worried. Flamini is, at best, a good squad player. Arsenal’s lofty ambitions mean that he’s not going to be a first-teamer at Arsenal, but he’s a hard-working player who will do quite well elsewhere. He wants to go to Italy, and I doubt that Wenger will want to keep a player who wants to leave.

What does it mean for Flamini?

Horrible timing (coming two days after the defeat to Liverpool) and considering the place Arsenal are in, tasteless as well. Like I said at the top he’s made a mistake and he should have been more loyal to his club. If you want to go, talk to the manager, why talk to the press and make it harder for the club?

Will the fans turn against him? I think they might, and he probably deserves it as well.

At the end of the day though, it’s not a crime to want to leave - it’s just wrong to play your club off in the media like that.

Are there any other players who are not happy at Arsenal?

[Sources: Sky Sports and L'Equipe]

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1. April 4, 2007Bergs

   Fair Enough. He was wonderful against Chelski and Poo this season - and after the tepid, sad, woeful, disgraceful display at AnMud on the w/e, a bit of Parlour-esque heart might go a long way to curing our ills.
   Nothing against Denilson who will be a Gilberto - only for Europe - type, but Flamini is and should be P*ssed that he’s been passed over after 2 full seasons at the gunners.

   Bergs

2. April 4, 2007woody

   for crying out loud why the moan at flamini wanting to go. after 5 years he still isnt good enough. he shouldnt be saying he is leaving the club should be saying it. its this mincing weak attitude that keeps players like flamini and aliadiare (1 prem goal in 9 years) that is holding us back

3. April 4, 2007The Saint

   Relax! This is just a ploy to get himself noticed and to get more playing time. I bet you you’ll see a release soon probably by the club stating that he never said these things or that he had been misquoted. I’m pretty sure this means he’ll be playing against West Ham from the start. If Flamini really wanted more playing time, he should have agreed to be 2nd choice left back and he definitely would have gotten a lot more playing time during Clichy’s injuries. He stubbornly wants to play in midfield where he is nowhere near as good as the others there at the moment. No great loss to us if he leaves as a midfielder but as a left back we would feel it a little. My advice is not to worry and let’s see if my predictions are fairly accurate.

4. April 4, 2007A

   I dont think he is being disloyal at all. Last season he was inspirational to arsenal and when they were short of players and had no one to step in, he did and played really well. Im not a gunners fan but i appreciate a player giving his all for his team. And as for 20 appearences most of them have been in the las 10 minutes to waste time and get another defensive man on. Flamini isnt exactly a young kid anymore and if he feels he isnt getting the playing time or even the oppertunity to prove himself over fabregas and denilson then he has every right to want to leave. Maybe he should have gone about it a bit better, no talked about lawyers and buy outs, but i think him wanting to leave is fair enough.

5. April 4, 2007Ahmed Bilal
   A - no issues with him leaving, only with the way he’s handling it. Talk to the club and your manager, not the media.
6. May 1, 2007vlad

   Flamini is not ireplaceble at Arsenal and the Gunners can handle without him, so he may leave but Arsenal the best!!!

7. May 21, 2007soso fimie

   to me it will be great 4 flamini to leave the team so that new players can come in and help the team next summer.
   And is arsenal going to sign new players.