When Arsenal take on AC Milan tonight at the San Siro, one man conspicuous by his absence will be former Gunner Mathieu Flamini.
Arsenal fans will remember fondly their closest brush with Champions League glory in 2006.
They reached the final and were only edged out 2-1 by Barcelona despite playing most of the game with 10 men.
One of the unsung, and very much unexpected stars of that Champions League run was young Frenchman Mathieu Flamini.
He had joined the club two summers beforehand, as a young ambitious defensive midfielder from Marseille.
Flamini had been crucial in the Champions League run operating as an auxiliary left-back while Ashley Cole was injured.
Cole returned for the final, and he came on with only 15 minutes remaining, but nevertheless he could feel proud of the role he played in Arsenal’s near-success.
The way he filled in, in an unfamiliar position is used as a reference point for Arsenal fans, even recently when young midfielder Francis Coquelin performed at left-back.
It was not that he never forced himself into Arsenal’s first team after that, more that he quit just as he was ready to grow as a player, and Arsenal really could have done with him in the following years.
He allowed his contract to expire and signed a contract with Italian giants AC Milan in 2008 where he has remained ever since.
You could argue his move has been a success, even though news of his progress has been quiet- but he never was a highlight-reel sort of player
While at Milan he has won silverware, which Arsenal have not managed since 2005, helping the club win their 18th Scudetto.
Last season he notoriously injured Tottenham Hotspur full-back Vedran Corluka with a two-footed tackle which cheered his old Arsenal fans. Fortunately for Corluka he was not out for long.
More unfortunately, Flamini broke down with a serious knee injury in pre-season for AC Milan, rupturing a cruciate ligament.
It has kept him out all season and he has not even been included in Milan’s Champions League squad.
He is hoping to be back from injury within the coming months, but will find it hard to break into a Milan side who are competing for a second successive Italian title.
So when his former teammates clash with his current ones tonight, he will be watching from the stands, wishing he was down there on the pitch.
Arsenal fans, would you like the club to re-sign Flamini in the summer if he recovers from his injury?
images: © Ronnie Macdonald, © Ronnie Macdonald
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