Arsenal bid £12m for Andrei Arshavin

By 1970’s Gooner

It seems that all the speculation surrounding Wenger’s interest in Andrei Arshavin is coming true.

Reports in the Russian press have today been covering the story that Arsenal has opened the bidding for Arshavin at £12m.

This seems not to have touched the Zenit hierarchy however as they have set their minds and hearts at £20m.

Arsenal however have started the bidding at a relatively low figure trying to take advantage of the fact that Arshavin could buy out his contract for £5m at the end of the year thus making himself a free agent six months later.

This lowers the player’s valuation as he would walk away for almost free in twelve months time with Zenit ending up with nothing.

The Russian press is further reporting that negotiations for the transfer of the player to Arsenal are currently ongoing with Arshavin himself spending his winter holidays in St Petersberg presumably making himself available for consultations should he be needed by Zenit.

The player himself had originally made his preference known that Spain and Barcelona were his choice. But since last summer he has said that he would prefer to live and play in England as this would be more suitable for his children and family.

Arshavin is an Arsene Wenger type of player. He is very very quick, athletic and most of all possesses high technique and ball skills.

He reminds me of Alexander Hleb without the timidness in front of goal but with a more direct style.