Thursday Mar 06 2008 07:49
Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini insists he is happy to remain with the
Gunners and hopes to extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium for at least one more season.
The 23-year-old Frenchman had been a bit-part player in Arsene Wenger's squad in the past, but has become an integral part of this season's team that has moved to the top of the Premier League table and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
His contract expires at the end of this season, leaving him free to talk to other clubs about a possible transfer, and Juventus have already been linked with his services.
However, Flamini says: "I am very happy here. Every game I give more than 100 per cent and I love playing for this team.
"We are a new generation, we have to create a new history. I want to be part of this history, so I hope I will be here for next season. At the moment my advisers are talking with the club, so I really hope that everything will be okay.
"I cannot put a time on it, but I really want to stay here. What is important for a player is to play and I am playing. I am becoming more and more confident and I want to take more responsibility.
"There are no limits because we are playing the Champions League to win it. We are playing the Premier League to win it too. To concentrate is very important at a very high level. So we are going to stay focused.
"Everybody said that Arsenal was a young side with less experience. Remember that only two years ago we went to the Champions League final and a lot of our players now were in that team.
"We have added quality to the team. We are stronger, we have more experience, so I am sure we will do a good job in the Champions League."
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