The Frenchman's original stint with Arsenal from 2004-2008 should arguably should have never ended. Many believe Flamini would have been better sticking around with the Gunners: his final season of that tenure was by far his best as he displaced the so-called 'Invisible Wall', Gilberto Silva, to occupy the middle of the park on the starting team. Despite a successful season with Arsenal, Flamini proved unable to resist the charms of Italian powerhouses AC Milan. The defensive midfielder did prove useful in Milan's Serie A title win in 2010/11 but he was generally considered to be the second choice to club captain Massimo Ambrosini. Flamini struggled to start and tended to function as a utility player. A lack of regular football resulted in Flamini's return to Arsenal in August 2014 and there was a distinct feeling that he would have been better served staying there all along. Arsenal had been lacking a defensive midfielder during his hiatus from the club and the Frenchmans skill would certainly have been more valued by Arsene Wenger than in Milan. Flamini was an important cog in what was a fairly successful 2013/14 for Arsenal, before a 2016 move to Crystal Palace gave him taste of life at the other end of the league.
Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.
