Mesut Ozil has said he remains in contact with former Arsenal midfield Mathieu Flamini and he considers him a ‘brother’.

Arsenal made two new midfield signings in the summer of 2013.

One of them was Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid, who cost the club £42.5m and was intended to usher in a new era at the club.

The other was Mathieu Flamini, signed on a free after a successful trial to fill in a couple of gaps in the squad.

Despite the overwhelming difference in status and importance in the Arsenal squad, the two became close friends.

Ozil has said that he remains in contact with his former team-mate after he left the club 2016.

“We have a very good relationship with him and me. I consider him my brother. We are still in contact. We had a lot of fun playing together,” he told SFR Sport (via Tribal Football).

“He, like (Karim) Benzema, are two great players who are a treasure for France. I am delighted to have met them.”

Flamini spent three years at Arsenal between 2013 and 2016, making 93 appearances in all competitions.

It was his second spell as an Arsenal player. He initially joined the club from Marseille in 2004 and made 153 appearances before joining AC Milan on a free transfer.

He’s currently a free agent after he was released by Crystal Palace in the summer.

He and Ozil may have had fun playing with each other, but the Arsenal fans sure didn’t enjoy watching Flamini play.

The odd goal and crunching tackle on a Spurs player here and there wasn’t enough to paper over his limitations as a player. He is currently looking for a project that ‘stimulates’ him.