Speaking to Setanta Sports after Arsenal's 0-0 draw with AC
Milan in the Champions League - a game in which Mathieu Flamini
again impressed, his team-mate Alexander Hleb stressed the
importance to the Gunners of the dynamic France international
midfielder.
Flamini helped to subdue World Player of the Year Kaka and Italian
playmaker Andrea Pirlo as Arsenal fell just short of beating
the European champions in their last 16 clash at the
Emirates.
The game confirmed that this season Flamini has emerged as one of
the leading holding midfielders in Europe, though players like Cesc
Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor and Hleb himself tend to receive more
media attention.
Remarkably Flamini, who joined Arsenal rom Marseille, nearly left
the club for Birmingham last summer. But his long-term future
is still unresolved, with his contract expiring at the end of this
season and Juventus said to be monitoring his situatuon
closely.
Flamini though would like to stay in North London, and Hleb wants
Arsenal to do whatever it takes to keep the services of the
23-year-old.
"For me it is very important, I think for Arsenal too," Hleb told
Setanta Sports. "He is my friend and he is very important.
"Mathieu was fantastic, really. He ran everywhere where the ball
was.
"I think he had a fantastic performance and he killed [Gennaro]
Gattuso. I like his game and he is very important to us."
Although the Gunners dominated the second half against Milan, they
had to settle for a goalless draw. The return leg in Milan will be
tough and the tie has swung in favour of the Rossoneri, defending
champions.
For Arsene Wenger, who has yet to win the Champions League, his
team's participation beyond this round of the current campaign
looks to be delicately poised.
An away goal at the San Siro would change the balance dramatically,
and Hleb is confident that this team can repeat the club's earlier
European heroics - at the San Siro against Inter in 2003 (when
Arsenal won 5-1) and at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid in 2006 (a
1-0 win) - and qualify for the quarter finals.
"It was difficult [at home to Milan] but I have belief in myself
and Arsenal and I believe we can get through to the next round,"
said Hleb.
"I think we can win in Milan but of course we need concentration
and to give 100 percent to get through at the San Siro."
Arsenal came agonisingly close to taking a lead to Milan with them,
Adebayor's late header cannoning off the crossbar to give Carlo
Ancelotti's side a reprieve.
Asked what he thought when he saw the ball strike the woodwork
rather than the back of the net, Hleb replied: "I don't know, ask
him, it is better! I think he needed to score but he was
unlucky and that is football."