If you’re anything like most of us, you’ve probably been operating under the assumption that Mathieu Flamini is out of contract in the summer and would likely be heading somewhere on a free.

Not so it seems.

Signing on a free just two seasons ago, it had been thought that he had signed only a two-year contract but he’s in the London Evening Standard talking about next season and it seems as if his initial contract came with a one-year option which has been picked up by the club.

Still think we’ll be signing a defensive midfielder this summer?

The piece confirms that he will be with us next season and then sees Flamini go on to talk about competition for places and how well Francis Coquelin has done.

“I’m happy to be part of this club. Now we’re looking forward to win another trophy.

“That, for me, is the most important. I don’t think the personal situation of every player is important. I think the collective is more important, especially in a situation like that when we’re about to play a final of the FA Cup and to add another trophy to the club.

“I played a lot in the first part of the season. Then second part of the season I got injured and then coming back it’s difficult to get in the team. If you look at the stats we nearly won every single game since February.

“When the team is winning there is not much to say, except working hard and trying to prove every day you can get back in the team. It’s a situation I accept. Competition makes you better, but there’s not much to say when the team is winning every single game. You just have to accept it and it’s part of the game. I’m looking forward.

“We all knew Francis was a great player and I’m really pleased for him because he had the chance to prove it.

“Now he has been doing very well since he played for the team. I’m not surprised because we have the chance to play with him every day, but I’m really pleased with him. He’s proving he has the qualities to be a top-class defensive midfielder every weekend.”

Flamini hasn’t started a game for Arsenal since February after starting 15 of the first 19 Premier League games.