Arsenal

Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini relishing extended game time

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter | 25 November 2015

Mathieu Flamini vows to make the most of Francis Coquelin's injury as the Arsenal midfielder looks poised for an extended run in the side.

Mathieu Flamini has vowed to capitalise on Francis Coquelin's long-term injury and plug gaps in Arsenal's midfield over the coming months.

Defensive midfielder Coquelin came off injured in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion, before being ruled out for up to 12 weeks with knee ligament damage.

Flamini deputised for his fellow Frenchman in Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb, and the 31-year-old hopes that more stellar displays will follow.

"I have a chance to be back in the team and I will try to prove every game that I can be in the team. The season is always long, so it's part of the game," he is quoted as saying by The Mirror.

"Sometimes you have to accept being on the bench and sometimes you get a chance to prove you can still play for Arsenal.

"If you don't play every week for an athlete, it's not easy because the more games you have in your legs the better you become. You gain in confidence and you become better physically, so the possibility to play game after game is going to be good for me."

The Gunners, who sit fourth in the Premier League table, face Norwich City away on Sunday.