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Wenger ready to block Juve move for Flamini
Wayne Veysey, Evening Standard30.01.08
Arsene Wenger today urged Mathieu Flamini to sign his new contract after the midfielder put in another outstanding display in the 3-0 win over Newcastle.
The Frenchman's position at Emirates Stadium is being closely monitored by Juventus after he broke into the Arsenal first team this season.
Such has been his form that Flamini has been keeping World Cup winner Gilberto out of the starting line-up.
Yet, the 23-year-old has still not put pen to paper on the five-year contract that, as was revealed by Standard Sport, was offered to him in December.
He is a free agent in the summer and could conceivably sign a pre-contract with another club now, but Wenger is determined the situation is sorted out to shut off any avenue of approach to Juventus.
Wenger, who revealed that another Frenchman, Abou Diaby, has just signed a new four-year deal with the club, said: "We are talking. I am hoping to finalise it. He wants to stay, and I want him to stay - so we will find an agreement.
"I am not especially concerned, because I believe what he tells me."
Flamini was man of the match last night as the Gunners beat Kevin Keegan's team 3-0 for the second time in four days.
Emmanuel Adebayor opened the scoring, Flamini hit a glorious second and Cesc Fabregas wrapped up the three points to put Arsenal back on top of the table - though Manchester United play Portsmouth at Old Trafford tonight.
Flamini insisted that he did not want to leave and hoped that everything would be sorted out. He said. "My priority is to stay here. My representatives are talking with the club and I hope everything will be good. My priority is to play game after game and concentrate on the football. As for the rest - we will see later."
Adebayor now has 19 goals for the season and Wenger is relieved that Togo did not qualify for the African Nations Cup, so his striker remains available.
"He has many assets for a striker - he is mobile, he is tall and he has quick feet," said the Arsenal boss.
"He can score with his feet, in the air, from crosses with headers. He is a generous type of player - he works for the team. He is a striker who you dream to have."
For Keegan and Newcastle, life appears to be getting worse.
The new manager is still waiting for his first goal back at the helm at St James' Park and now has to deal with the appointment of Dennis Wise as an executive director.
"I am all for the changes and I approve of them," said the former England manager. "They [chairman Chris Mort and owner Mike Ashley] want someone on the board who understands football, and Dennis knows it very well. I think it will work very well. He reports to me - the chain is established."
"My concentration is on the first team and getting the club right," he added. "The club has become slightly fragmented. From my point of view, it's a positive thing - provided I get all the help I need."
