Arsenal have confirmed the return of Mathieu Flamini to the club.

The French international has re-signed for the Gunners as a free agent after leaving the London club five years ago to join Italian giants AC Milan.

The 29-year-old defensive midfielder has agreed a 3-year contract.

His arrival comes after Arsenal's pursuit of Newcastle's Yohan Cabaye appears to have come to an end.

We can exclusively reveal that Mathieu Flamini's shirt number at #Arsenal will be... pic.twitter.com/wmoVazWHt2

— Arsenal.com (@Arsenal) August 29, 2013

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson says that Flamini's arrival is a positive sign as time runs out in the transfer window: