If you cast your eye across the British footballing landscape these days, you’ll notice a smattering of ex-Arsenal players across the land.
Nicklas Bendtner at Nottingham Forest, Benik Afobe at Bournemouth and Kolo Toure at Celtic are but a few examples of former Arsenal players making their way elsewhere.
And now former sleeve-rebel and no-nonsense tackler, Mathieu Flamini, adds his name to the list, having joined Crystal Palace on a free transfer.
FLAMINI 4. #WelcomeMathieu ð´ðµ pic.twitter.com/oHqaTCAvvU
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) September 8, 2016
All the best at @CPFC, @MathieuFlamini pic.twitter.com/jwI0UFvfyC
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) September 8, 2016
The transfer marked a pretty good summer for Palace, according to some.
Crystal Palaceâs summer signings:
âTomkins
âMandanda
âTownsend
âBenteke
âRemy
âFlamini
(ð¥: @xM20x) #CPFC https://t.co/cxFNlhtnjJ— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) September 8, 2016
Although not everyone agreed…
I swear I read somewhere that the Palace chairman got rid of Jedinak cause he's wants them to be top 10.. So you sign Flamini? Umm.. ð¤ #CPFC
— Jamie Plummer (@Jampa9) September 8, 2016
Alan Pardew has rather taken to French footballers in recent years, earning himself the nickname, Alain Pardieu.
17 – Mathieu Flamini could be become the 17th Frenchman to make a @premierleague appearance under Alan Pardew. Channelled.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 8, 2016
Others couldn’t help but worry for opponents of the Eagles this season, whose shin pads might need reinforcing.
Love the idea of a Yohan Cabaye / Mathieu Flamini midfield pair. The legs! The tackling!
— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) September 8, 2016
Is this right? Has Flamini ever commanded a transfer fee?
Good luck to Flamini at Crystal Palace. Has he actually joined a club for a transfer fee?
— Pedro De Sousa (@Josepds81) September 8, 2016
It’s true! Arsenal may have paid some form of compensation to Marseille to bring him to London, but the Frenchman has apparently never commanded a fee.
Flamini's transfer fee:
Marseille to Arsenal: Free
Arsenal to AC Milan: Free
AC Milan to Arsenal: Free
Arsenal to Palace: Free
ð— Football Funnys (@FootballFunnys) September 8, 2016
Others looked ahead to the end of the season, when Arsenal’s transfer business could make for a tasty narrative.
Flamini & Wilshere in a relegation battle this season. pic.twitter.com/OHs0veYcVy
— Al (@DxrtySanchez) September 8, 2016
But the most important thing was that Flamini remained in the same city as best friend and assist-king, Mesut Ozil.
At least Ozil and Flamini can still hang out. #AFC
— On Me Head Son! (@Danielfloyd1981) September 8, 2016
Hooray!