No wonder they let Flamini go

zocoss

12 Jul 08, 11:03

MATHIEU FLAMINI’S replacement Samir Nasri will bring glamour to Arsenal — in the shape of tennis babe girlfriend Tatiana Golovin. French ace Nasri, 21, yesterday signed a four-year deal with the Gunners after they agreed a £12million deal with Marseille. But Golovin, 20, beat her midfielder boyfriend to making a stir among London sports fans — by wearing red knickers at Wimbledon last year.

World No21 Golovin, whose family hailed from Moscow before moving to France, also reached the US Open quarter-finals in 2006 before losing out to fellow babe Maria Sharapova and has won the French Open mixed doubles with Richard Gasquet.

America’s Justin Gimelstob caused a storm on the tennis circuit last month by describing Golovin as a “sexpot” during a radio interview. The arrival of Nasri — dubbed the new Zinedine Zidane — is expected to hasten the departure of Alex Hleb, with Barcelona leading the race.

Nasri’s signing will soften the blow for Gunners fans after Flamini walked out on a free to join AC Milan earlier this summer. Nasri, the youngest player in France’s Euro 2008 squad, revealed former Arsenal stars Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira talked him into moving to the Emirates.

He said: “I know Thierry and Patrick very well and they both told me a lot of good things about Arsenal. They both had amazing times here and are still very enthusiastic about the club. "They have given me a lot of advice and told me Arsenal were the best choice. “I really hope everything will go well for me here. I will do my best for Arsenal and the fans.”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger added: “Samir is young, quick and technically outstanding. “He has shown great potential with his performances for Marseille and France over the past two seasons.

“I’m sure he will add great quality to our set- up.”