London, July 15 (IANS): French footballer Mathieu Flamini is determined to get his place back in English club Arsenal's first team.

Flamini was replaced by Francis Coquelin in Arsenal's first 11 by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after he suffered an injury in January.

"I don't like to give up that easily,'I'm working hard. There's a lot of competition. It's a big club," the 31-year-old was quoted by saying dailymail.co.uk on Wednesday.

"I played a lot in the first part of last season and then I got injured in January and after that the team has been winning nearly every game, so it's difficult to complain. I'm working hard in pre-season. Everything will be open and I will work hard to get my place back. With a lot of competition you just have to accept it."

"I don't like to look back at the past. We are starting a new season and I'm focused on that one. The last season was a positive one at the end because we won the FA Cup," he added.

Flamini also said he doesn't see himself becoming a coach after retiring from active play.

"I've been playing at the top level now for nearly 13 years, so I don't see myself as a coach or assistant coach," he concluded.