Wenger lifted by Flamini’s Arsenal U-turn

The 23-year-old midfielder said in April that he wanted to quit in the summer because he could not command a regular starting spot. He even said he was considering buying out his contract to secure a move.

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But Flamini held showdown talks with Wenger this week and assured him that he is happy to be a squad player this season and play anywhere the manager wants him.

The Frenchman, who stood-in at left-back during Arsenal's run to the 2006 Champions League final, had grown frustrated at being asked to play out of position on the flanks rather than in his favourite central midfield role.

Wenger accepted Flamini's U-turn and told the former Marseille man that he is still part of his plans and will start the new campaign with a clean slate. Flamini will play from the start in central midfield as Arsenal begin their preseason programme tomorrow with the traditional curtain-raiser at neighbours Barnet.

Cesc Fabregas, inevitably the subject of much transfer speculation this summer, showed his commitment to the cause by returning to pre-season a few days early because he was 'bored' back home in his native Spain.

Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott also came back a fortnight before the rest of the squad after undergoing foot and shoulder operations at the end of last season.

Only Gilberto, who has been in Venezuela leading the Brazil side that has reached Sunday's final of the Copa America — a game he will miss through suspension — will not feature in a pre-season programme that includes a week in Austria, the weekend-long Emirates Cup and the Amsterdam Tournament.

The midfielder, who is expected to be named club captain in succession to Henry, will have a month's holiday before returning to London Colney to undergo his own pre-season training programme.

It is not expected that he will be available for selection until the end of August.

Arsenal's two main summer signings, Croatian striker Eduardo da Silva and French full-back Bacary Sagna, will not start at Barnet.

The latter finally completed his £7.5m switch from Auxerre yesterday, two days after agreeing terms on a £25,000-aweek five-year contract and passing a medical.