Top Premier League Bosman deals of 2013

Mathieu Flamini celebrates after the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 01, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images)

Mathieu Flamini (AC Milan to Arsenal)

Before the deadline-day signing of Mesut Ozil, Wenger was publicly criticised for resigning someone who left five years ago for a better pay package.

And while Ozil and Aaron Ramsey have garnered all the applause, the Frenchman has gone about his dirty business by protecting the back four rather nicely. The old-boy has restored the bite that was missing in the Gunners’ midfield, allowing the others around him to surge ahead and grab the headlines.

The unsung hero has probably been the best value-for-money deal and could prove to be as important as the deadline day club-record signing, if Wenger’s men do finally end their long overdue trophy drought.