Mathieu Flamini says Arsenal are better prepared for a Premier League title challenge this season after running out of steam in the final months last time out.
The Gunners charged up the table in the aftermath of Mesut Ozil’s deadline day signing last year only for injuries to the Welsh Jesus and other key deities to deplete the ranks at crunch moments in the final months.
Having recruited the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy, David Ospina and Calum Chambers and with confidence high following triumphs in the FA Cup and Community Shield, the Frenchman insists that the Gunners have the quality to go all the way.
“It is very good for the confidence but now we have to start the season,” the 30-year-old told Sky Sports after Sunday’s Wembley win.
“We have to be very focused and ready because it is going to be a long [season].
“It is important not to forget the season is a marathon, it is not a sprint, so it will be a long one like all the time and we will make sure to be ready.
“We had a good year last year, even if we collapsed in the last couple of months, but I think we are ready. We have a strong team with a lot of quality.
“We are part of the big teams and I think we have the quality to fight for the title definitely.”
After another impressive performance at centre-back new boy Calum Chambers was also in exuberant mood at Wembley. Picking up his first piece of silverware in only his third game for the club, the 19-year-old revealed he’s loving life in his new Emirates surroundings.
“I’m really enjoying my time here,” he told Arsenal Player. “Everyone has welcomed me really well so I’m really enjoying it.
“It’s been quite a whirlwind of a few weeks. I’m taking every day as it comes, just concentrating on what I’m doing next. I’m really enjoying it here and everyone has welcomed me really well. I just want to play the best I can and show everyone what I can do.
“We’ve got a lot of quality players here. The team spirit is really high at the moment so I think we can do well this season. We’ll go into every game and give it 100 per cent, and with the quality in this team, we’ll hope for a result in every game.”
So impressed with Chambers!
Yes we can! I feel that we are much better prepared mentally this year and winning the FA cup provided a good base! I believe in these guys! Everything is so positive even Fat Gunner is silent!!!!!!
Unrelated, but does it seem Yaya Sanogo is left out of the group banter, and pictures?
What you mean like when he dances in the changing room and everyone chants his name? That kind of thing?
That FA cup jig was him practising his celebration for the goals he’s going to score this season!!
Hey i could be wrong, that’s why i asked. You just don’t want to see unhappy faces in a team environment, some pictures he looks buzzing! Oh well, great win yesterday regardless of critics.
this is the season. the one where everyone is afraid of the mighty Arsenal!! Wonder who we are gonna buy next season! how happy is Messi at Barca anyway? did they wish him happy birthday for his puppy yet? maybe we should first. and they say love your neighbour as you love **** dont know what word to use. any way are they still buying flops? our flops? im in a chatty mode thanks to #Arsenal
I saw this headline and thought that Flamini was hailing the signing of Grant Holt by looking forward to the marathon challenge. and mars bar challenge. and chickent balti pie challenge. but, sadly not. the sight of grant holt in our new spray-on kit would surely have been enough to scare the bejesus out of any opposing defenders. we can but dream…
LOL
Federal Marshall Flamini. AKA “the butcher of North London”
The Flaminister of Defense?
*grabs coat and runs*
Keep The Articles and News pouring In!!!!!!
Loving every bit of it…
Its always good to be a gooner…but looks like Now is THE BEST time to be one;)
Chambers is going to be the next big thing
what do you guys think of arsenal fan tv? I think he is disrupting team morale by never talking about what players we have. Instead everyday he posts a @media tweet about a dream we were never in for. This is why I only arseblog because it’s all official and tells us about what we have. Not what we DONT have. stop the transfer daily robbie!
ps love the after game shows.
some people are only happy when they’re miserable. we had to relocate our seats last season as the new guy behind us was just sapping my will to live. i honestly think he took pleasure in our more abject performances as it made all his negativity sound like insightful predictions…
The keys are ‘strength in depth’ and staying fit. Both of which are being addressed.
It’s also good to hear just how ‘united’ the squad is from the players themselves. That’s always encouraging.
We are ready!!!
He ain’t going no where fellas! This is a guy who can finish his career at Arsenal. Full of passion and aggression on the field. And a gentleman off it (by never complaining). I was really disappointed when he left us after a wonderful season a few years ago. We need a warrior like him the squad.
Ok now not to throw cold water on all of this but… ! … (*strains*)…
Nope! Just can’t be negative.
We are going to win every goddam thing!
As much as we’d all love a shiny new DM with bulging muscles and the ability to play centre back too, I do love a bit of Flamini
I know this is off-topic but look what BBC is reporting.
Premier League clubs are to use the database of computer game Football Manager to help recruit new signings.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28738388
Moyesy was ahead of his time then…
This is vintage Arsenal! (courtesy: EA Sports commentary)
Chambers>Shaw
Even at LB!
Love Flamini, but realistically we need another CB dearly. And a DM wouldn’t go amiss either. Arteta and Flam are both good players but we need added quality as anchorage to allow our attacking minded players free reign.
This. Or one player who can play in either position.
Chambers?
I can’t help but have one of this wenger grins from cheekbone to cheekbone every time I think of the Arsenal, which is about 97% of my time. The other 3 to Eva Longoria’s tits
When looking at the other ex Arsenal players especially those who switched over to Man City and Barca of recent years, its heartwarming to know that of all mongrels that left the club in search for greener pastures during our most difficult years, the one who actually managed to amend broken bridges (with exception to Henry and Sol) is Flamini who left on a free. That thought is still not fully comprehensible to me!
May be because it didnt really matter at that time. Because he left for free. Its like Park. Doesnt really mattr at the time. Henry and Sol gave their best years to us. But Cesc Song Van P Nasri all left in their prime
I honesty think we can do another invincible season this year, that’s how confident I’m feeling. Bring it on!
I made a bet with my brother on exactly that. If Arsenal lose a league match I’ll owe him a pint. If we go undefeated he’ll owe me 20 pints. Easiest 20 pints I ever made. The only problem is collecting them as I live in Vancouver and he lives in St. John’s.
Yes mentally, but we still need someone in that DM who can challenge area balls and help out defense when the Right and left backs go forward. Arteta is a good player but not the best with tackles.
“….the Welsh Jesus and other deities…..” this is proof that Arsenal must be some sort of heaven filled with various gods
god of thunder…. #Aha
god of two feet….. Santi
god of war/injury….. Diaby???
Ok I’ll get my coat already
God of beauty, Giroud….
God Of Class – Ozil
God of awesome – Rosicky
Need a DM and a CB and we will be truely feared..come on Arsene, get the checkbook out one more time
Since Mangala has now finally gone to city we should try and sign Nastasic. He could be perfect. Firstly he is young Mertescielny are 29 and definitely the no.1 partnership for arsenal but we cant use them for the whole season, at 21 he could mature and learn from them and maybe even form a future partnership with Chambers who has been excellent so far. He also has PL experience which would be good for us and has played champions leauge. Nastasic would be around 15m so the money from Vermaelen’s sale could be reinvested in a younger CB that… Read more »
Two days ago, I thought the Nastasic rumour made perfect sense. Now though, I’ve realised that because he’s 21 and has been with City for two years, he can play for them in the Champions League without being registered in their squad. And their squad can only be 21 players this year (min 5 homegrown), effectively 19 because they don’t have more than 3 homegrown players they actually want to play. So it makes a lot of sense for them to keep Nastasic.
We need a Cback. Fail to see what Arteta did wrong against City. Nor did I see Toure exactly bossing the game despite his atheletic and robust physique. more so, our system is better now because : We have more options for outlet up top which enables jack (or Ramsey) to better support the space around Arteta thereby limiting any breach through the middle. Also both our full backs covered well (and had support defending) We do not need Carvalho much like Wanyama, MVila or Gustavo. Come next summer we will need to visit the Arteta situation on account of… Read more »
Come next year AW gonna switch Callum up to DM and give the CB/FB slot to the Corporal :p
Recently – rumour on Nastasic.
I’ll take him at 21yrs, slightly young (albeit good experience over last 2 seasons) and @ 6’2 lends height and plenty of talent in the Serb if City are distracted by a shiny new toy.
Otherwise Hummels please. 30m but we offer CL and he is offset by Vermaelen sale which means a net cost of 15m, frankly a steal for the quality.
@Santori If you read today’s article on tactics, one of the reason why we are so dominant against City is that Wenger used an inverted triangle against them. This allows us to outnumber their midfield, 3-2 and steam roll them over. I guess Arteta can work with Ramsey and Wilshire helping with the work load in front of him, but if we play with Ozil further up, sometimes, Arteta can get isolated. Especially if Ramsey is not available and Wilshire plays alongside Arteta, the 2 of them have problems moving the ball up field. Ox is a far better partner… Read more »
You know how i try to adapt to be like a German these days? I only scroll and stop to read high green thumbs comments. Efficient. Thats what.
Coat? I don’t have one.