Arsenal Football Club News

• Nickname:Gunners
• Founded:1886
• Manager:Arsene Wenger

• Ground:Emirates
• Capacity:60,432

Juve step up Flamini chase

22 Apr 2008 - 15:59:35

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Serie A giants Juventus have stepped up their interest in Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini.

The 24-year-old France international is out of contract at the end of this season and is still to agree a new deal with the Gunners.

Reports in Italy claim Juventus will hand Flamini a five-year contract, and the club's director Jean-Claude Blanc is confident a deal can be agreed.

"This is an important player who we have been chasing for some time," he told Corriere dello Sport.

"And it will have to be good to take him because many teams are interested.

"In order to convince champions you need to take into account their ambitions. To get champions you have to think big."

Flamini has spent the last four years with Arsenal following his move from Marseille. He has made more than 150 appearances for the club although it is only this season that he has become a first-team regular.