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Flamini: There's No Limits

Wed 05 Mar, 04:14 PM


Mathieu Flamini believes there is "no limit" to what Arsenal can achieve - and maintained he would love to stay on and "create history" with the club.

The Gunners moved into the last eight of the Champions League with a superb 2-0 victory over holders AC Milan at the San Siro.

Flamini and Cesc Fabregas - who cracked in a brilliant 25-yard strike with just six minutes left - dominated the midfield as the European champions were made to look ordinary in their own back yard.

Although manager Arsene Wenger has been cautious when it comes to talking up the chances of his men, the spirit within the squad is understandably high.

Arsenal - who lead the Premier League by a point from Manchester United - have certainly been through a steep learning curve this season.

They have stepped from the shadow of former captain Thierry Henry to race to the top of the table before suffering a dip in form during the past month and the loss of striker Eduardo to a horrific broken leg.

However, great confidence remains that this could just yet turn out to be a vintage campaign for Wenger's young Gunners.

Flamini declared: "There are no limits because we are playing the Champions League to win it. We are playing the Premier League to win it too. So now we are going to concentrate.

"As you saw in the last two games to concentrate is very important at a very high level. So we are going to stay focused."

The French midfielder added: "Everybody said that Arsenal was a young side with less experience.

"Remember that only two years ago we went to the Champions League final and a lot of our players now were in that team.

"We have added quality to the team. We are stronger, we have more experience, so I am sure we will do a good job in the Champions League."

Flamini, 23, has been a revelation this season after almost leaving in the summer and his form has kept Brazil captain Gilberto warming the bench while earning him international recognition.

However, the midfielder's current contract runs out at the end of the campaign, and as such he was free to talk to other clubs from the start of the year with Juventus said to be closely monitoring the situation.

Negotiations with Arsenal, though, are at a delicate stage, with the main sticking point understood to be over wages.

However, Flamini - signed from Marseille in 2004 - wants a positive outcome.

"I am very happy here. Every game I give more than 100 per cent and I love playing for this team," he insisted.

"We are a new generation, we have to create a new history. I want to be part of this history, so I hope I will be here for next season."

Flamini revealed: "At the moment my advisers are talking with the club, so I really hope that everything will be okay.

"I cannot put a time on it, but I really want to stay here.

"I have more and more confidence. What is important for a player is to play and I am playing.

"I am becoming more and more confident and I want to take more responsibility."

Arsenal return to domestic action in the less glamorous surroundings of the JJB Stadium in Wigan on Sunday.

With Manchester United in FA Cup sixth-round action against Portsmouth, it is a chance to open up a lead at the top of the table.

Flamini, though, knows it will be no easy pickings from their trip to the north-west.

He said: "It is fantastic to play in the Champions League and beat AC Milan - but to come back in the Premier League to go to Wigan is not going to be easy. It's a tough game."

Flamini added: "We have been around the top of the league for seven months, so we will do everything to stay in the number one position.

"We know it is going to be difficult, but we are a strong team with a lot of quality."

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