BY JEM MAIDMENT Mathieu Flamini, who has been Arsenal s most impressive performer in an otherwise disappointing month – particularly in Milan – has called on his colleagues to redouble their efforts in the quest for the Premiership title. When you want t

BY JEM MAIDMENT

Mathieu Flamini, who has been Arsenal's most impressive performer in an otherwise disappointing month - particularly in Milan - has called on his colleagues to redouble their efforts in the quest for the Premiership title.

"When you want to win the title you have to be ready to fight," he said. "Now we have to work harder in training and be ready for Middlesbrough."

Manager Arsene Wenger has also been boosted by the news the combative Flamini, who is out of contract in the summer, has agreed to put pen to paper on a new deal within the next fortnight - as reported in last week's Ham&High.

"He wants to stay, I want him to stay and we have a good understanding" he smiled. "That should be sorted out this month."

Meanwhile, the man whose place Flamini has taken sitting in front of the back four, Gilberto, has also called for a positive performance against Boro.

"We have come off a few draws which is not good, but we need to come back and win the next game," said the Brazil midfielder.

"I don't think we need to think about them [United] too much now. They have a game in hand and can go one point ahead but the most important thing is to do our job properly. You never know, they can slip up as we did at Wigan," he added.