Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini says he enjoys doing the team’s dirty work while his more creative team-mates get on with scoring and creating goals.
The Frenchman has been one of the Gunners’ most valuable players this season after rejoining on a free transfer last summer.
He is under no illusions as to what his role is within Arsene Wenger’s side.
He told Arsenal’s website: “My most important job on the pitch is to protect the back four and it is not easy, especially when the other team is focused offensively and has so many players of real quality.
“I try to stay in front of the back four, to protect Koscielny and Mertesacker. I’m also trying to co-ordinate between defence and attack, because what is important in football is to attack together and defend together.
“The team is so offensive, everyone goes forward and that is part of the characteristic of Arsenal. We play football based on attacking very quickly; that is the beauty of our game.
“At the same time we have to make sure we don’t face any counter-attacks and stay very high so we can get the ball back when we lose it. It is always much easier to defend when the team is very high.
“When I play with any of the boys in midfield I have to sit in front of the defence and do the dirty work but I enjoy doing it. My pleasure is to give them the possibility to attack and, when we lose the ball, to get it back as quickly as possible.”
