Gunners slowness cost them Flamini
8:37am Saturday 17th May 2008
MATHIEU Flamini claims it was Arsenal's fault that he quit for AC Milian this summer.
The French international, hints that had the Gunners moved quicker to offer him a new contract then he may have stayed with the club.
Flamini, 24, told The Sun: "If Arsenal had offered me a contract last summer I would still be their player now.
"Last July I told Arsenal I wanted to extend my contract so, of course, I would have signed if they had offered me a deal . . . but they didn't.
"They said they wanted me to prove myself first.
"It was difficult for me at the beginning. I had to see it as a challenge but I won't lie, it was not easy. You have to be mentally very strong to cope.
"If I had a serious injury my future would have been in question as I was out of contract. But, touch wood, I don't want to think about these things and, thankfully, I played well and I can be proud of what I achieved."
Arsenal's failure to move quickly, alerted a string of top clubs throughout Europe to Flamini's situation, although he claims he was still determined to stay in London.
He added: "We started to speak in December but I knew it was a huge decision. At that time we were playing every three days. I didn't want to think too much about that because I wanted to focus on my performances.
"It was difficult for me as I started to have offers from big clubs."