Why Flamini should stay. Gourcuff in next? Midfielder linked to Galatasaray…

Morning all.

Roger has written today’s post:

Bromance and the surprising ways that Flamini brings out the best of Ozil.

While we continue to hang in this pre-season purgatory it’s the little things that give me a buzz. I love the video of the effervescent Santi nodding headers round a circle of Arsenal players in the hotel pool in Singapore, and the players bursting into song when they win their game. If you have seen the video, you can watch it HERE. Full power lad-ship and bro love!

Actually, that’s a big part of what pre-season is all about – serious fun ahead of what will surely be a long and testing season. When I see the boys knocking headers around the pool like that it helps to remind you that they are actually young guys at heart, enjoying their lives just like we would have at their age. Or heck, at any age.

There are a lot of things about the dynamics and camaraderie of the team that we don’t see as fans and it’s this energy which really helps a team through a long season. Arsene Wenger often alludes to this magic energy in terms of ‘cohesion’ or ‘balance’ or ‘spirit’. On numerous occasions this has been a justification for why Wenger doesn’t dive deeper into the transfer market. And recent failed examples of Liverpool, Spurs or Man Utd throwing around £100 million in a window suggest that Wenger isn’t half wrong about this magic energy.

When I think back to the Invincibles, I remember Toure describing the team like a ‘band of brothers’ and when I see the boys having a right old time in the pool I’m reminded that this is exactly the spirit which is going to give us a real shot at the title this season.

The photo posted yesterday is a cracker. The ultimate alpha-lad, Giroud, is trying to impress anyone who is watching. The photo is great because there is just enough space above the heads of the mildly impressed Ozil and Flamini to add some thought bubbles… (Go on, add yours in the comments section).

This photo triggered me to remember a video I saw on the Arsenal facebook page a few months ago for the Arsenal Alternative Awards. And the biggest bromance award at Arsenal goes to….. drum roll please… Mesut Ozil and Mathieu Flamini!

Who would’ve thought it? The most unlikely bro-couple are apparently inseparable. ‘The bond is strong!’ says Welbeck, ‘They are twins! ‘ laughs Kosha, ‘Them 2 will always be together’ grins Walcott.

If you haven’t seen the Alternative Awards video, check it out HERE, it’s hilarious.

Now you might have noticed that Flamini and Ozil were not in the Santis water circle video, which doesn’t mean anything as somehow you just know they were hanging out together somewhere else.

My impressions of Ozil are that he is a little more socially awkward than some of the characters at the club since Ozil arrived. Think Podolski, Wilshere, Giroud and Ramsey and many others, all with a twinkle in their eye and who bond effortlessly with their team-mates.

Ozil comes across as a little more… stiff. You’ve probably seen a few cardboard match interviews or that kind of awkward recent video of Ozil naming the best 11 he has ever played with (and ‘forgetting’ to add many Arsenal players!).

Mesut doesn’t come across as someone who blends in a group naturally and easily or being someone who is at ease in any foreign environment. Of course I could be completely wrong but I see a young guy arriving from a foreign country, speaking broken English and maybe not finding it quite so easy to fit in. Everyone needs good friends to be at their best and any player who is having fun in his life, feeling like he is living his dream at Arsenal, will be a better player and that’s where Flamini comes in.

Flamini gets his share of footballing criticism on HH and elsewhere and I’m not going to pretend that Flamini is a wonderful player, and at times he can be frustrating on the field that’s for sure and I don’t think he’s starting 11 material for Arsenal these days. But at the same time, he is an honest player, doing his best and clearly caring about the team, and frankly some of the criticism is over the top imo. Consider too that he came back to us on a free transfer so he wants to be here and he doesn’t suck down an exorbitant wage.

Until recently I thought that Flamini should probably depart so Arsene Wenger can buy another DM but I’ve revised my position as I don’t think Flamini is preventing us from buying a Schneiderlin-esqe DM. We should still absolutely buy a top quality DM regardless, however Flamini is good enough for League Cup games and to face lower table teams in PL, helping to rest a few players when injuries set in and the fixtures pile up.

But his real value is off the pitch, behind the scenes where we don’t see him and what statistics can’t measure. Flamini is Ozil’s best mate and this makes one of our stars really happy to be at Arsenal and when Ozil is happy, Arsenal’s midfield purrs. This is the surprising value of Flamini and how he helps to bring the best out of Ozil.

A strong team bond is how we will win the League.

Gossip and other stuff:

Hector Bellerin has signed a new long-term contract which is great news.

Mathieu Flamini could be on his way to Galatasaray where he’ll link up with Lukas Podolski if such a move does take place.

Ivan Gazidis has hinted that Arsene Wenger may stay on after his current contract expires!

Yoann Gourcuff is a free agent and Arsenal together with Liverpool and City are trying to sign him according to Shoot.

Nacho Monreal has said he’s very happy at Arsenal but in other headlines, Ghoulam could sign this week so one of Monreal or Gibbs must surely be on their way out. Either that or Arsene Wenger will turn the 6′ 2″ Algerian left-back into a centre-back…

That’s it for Saturday, don’t forget we kick off at 1.30 against Everton and it’s live on Sky Sports 1.