Mathieu Flamini out for a fortnight as Arsenal eye West Brom enforcer

Mathieu Flamini

Arsenal have been dealt a blow by the news that Mathieu Flamini will miss the next two to three weeks with the groin injury that forced him off in the game with Crystal Palace.

In the one area of midfield where the Gunners are relatively light on numbers they now face a mini selection crisis, with Mikel Arteta absent through suspension.

The Sunday Mirror reports that they are considering a move for West Brom’s Youssouf Mulumbu to provide long term competition for Flamini, but such a move will provide little respite in the short term, and the Gunners are likely to have to move player of the season so far Aaron Ramsey to cover for the Frenchman.

Flamini will miss key league games against Liverpool and Chelsea, as well as the Gunners Champions League clash with Borrusia Dortmund.

Despite arriving amidst scorn and scoffing rather than the fanfare that greeted fellow new arrival Mesut Ozil, Flamini has become a crucial part of the Arsenal midfield that has sent them to the league summit. Marshalling the holding midfield role, allowing the rest of the midfield to express themselves in front of him, Flamini will be sorely missed.

The Frenchman’s absence is exacerbated by the suspension of Mikel Arteta. The likely replacement for Flamini, Arteta was shown a straight red card for bringing down Maroune Chamakh at Selhurst Park.

The Mirror report claims that Arsenal are interested in a £7 January bid for Mulumbu: a move that will add more balance to their plethora of midfield options. The West Brom midfielder has won 76% of his tackles this season, and averages four interceptions per game.

Of Arsenal midfielders to play multiple matches, only Mikel Arteta has a higher pass accuracy than Flamini.