Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger maintains Mathieu Flamini will be playing at Emirates stadium next season.

He is yet to sign a new deal and Wenger has given the midfield star an 11-day deadline.

He said: "We are getting close. I mean, he says he wants to stay and I believe him. But as long as he hasn't signed the contract he is free to sign for someone else.

"We have set ourselves a target until the end of the month.

"We want to finalise the situation one way or another. Keeping the team together is my first target.

"We want to respect our wage structure and it is very important for the rest of the team."