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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

No wonder Wenger is interested in Arshavin


By 1970’s Gooner

Andrei Arshavin is a typical Wenger player. He is very very quick, athletic and most of all possesses high technique and ball skills.

Watching him tonight in the UEFA Cup Final for Russian side Zenit St Petersburg against a very British style Rangers reminded me of Alexander Hleb without the timidness in front of goal but with a more direct style.

He is the type of player who hugs the touchline and tonight his pace, devilry and work rate was almost unplayable. More over he showed that he plays with his brain.

His through passes, bisecting the opposing defence and playing his on coming forward through, were exquisite and reminscent of Wenger's style of football.

He ended tonight’s game with both the assists for Zenit’s goals. The first a defence splitting pass through the middle which put Denisov on his own against Alexander in the Rangers goal.

The other assist came from what he has been doing all night. Going passed his defender on the wing and cutting back for another of his colleague to tap in.


No wonder Arsene Wenger is reported to have been interested to bring him to the Emirates in the last summer transfer window.

His agent Pavel Andreev then said : “"We have three offers for Arshavin. All three are from strong European teams. We are currently considering the pros and cons of each and carrying out consultations. Andrei wants to leave and is interested in playing abroad".

The three teams in question are believed to be Arsenal, Tottenham and French Ligue 1 side Marseille.

Arshavin himself said: "Regarding my future, I have already said I'd like to try one of Europe's top leagues, among which the Spanish and English leagues interest me most."

In the 2007 Russian Premier League season Arshavin guided his side to the title, starting all 30 matches - scoring 10 goals and providing 11 assists along the way.

It was the club's first league title since claiming the now defunct Soviet Top League in 1984 and Arshavin was voted as the Russian player of the year.

Andrei is 26 years old and is captain of Russia. He has scored 10 goals for his country in 33 appearances.

If he can do that for Arsenal from a wide midfield position he will be a far more effective player than Alexander Hleb!

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can we do a straight swap with Khlebby?

He'd enjoy life in Russia.

Anonymous said...

true that.

Anonymous said...

agree completely, watched him tonight, makes the game look so easy...think we could do with him, yaya toure, and a strong centre back...definitly sign arshavin if hleb goes

Anonymous said...

Their whole team looks good. I saw them against Bayern. They have an excelling Right winger, Defensive midfielder, Striker and a very organised defence. May be we should look for defence from Zenit or Rangers.

Arshavin is their best player though.

Anonymous said...

yeah a swap would be good for us. im sure hleb would like living in Saint Petersburg. i heard its not that noisy

Anonymous said...

Yeah a top player and he can actually shoot too.Cant believe Romans rubles havnt bought him yet.

Anonymous said...

You've seen him in one game people.....

And who said that Arsene is interested in him? A direct link to his office?

Anonymous said...

Sounds like one of the most realistic targets so far. If I'm correct in my assumption, he was linked in January so it would correspond with the theory that Wenger tracks players over a prolongued period of time before putting a concrete bid in.

I still think it is unlikely though. If we do sign Ben Arfa then it would render Arshavin's signing redundant. They aren't that alike but in essence they have a similar core playing style based on mobility and avoiding opposition by covering ground as quickly as possible.

P.S. Arsenal have withdrawn their initial bid for Van der Vaart siting his increasing delay in a final decision as the reason. They are now concentrating on other targets.
Looks like Wenger really is in a rush.

Anonymous said...

Wenger has actually been tracking him for a while. He is a good player, don't know if he is top top quality. You can tell he can play football though.

Maybe a double swoop for (spelling) Tymouchuk and Arshavin? Tym would bring a lot of steel and leadership qualities to Arsenal as well as some much needed height, whereas Arshavin looks clever enough to play.

They're just suggestions, and as a midfielder we could do a lot worse...for example Makoun who is shit and the link is agent bullshit

Anonymous said...

Mate; I went to the Cesc Fab show last night and everyone won the new kit.

They said they'll be posted to us and they're based on the famous 88/89 kits...

Anonymous said...

ive been watching arshavin throughout the UEFA cup comp.first time watched him i knew that his a typical arsenal player...this guy is really good technically..scores goals..assists...typical gunner

we must get him..

Anonymous said...

To anon 11.23

How was the show and how was Fabregas? Is he up to it?

Is it possible for you to provide us with a short account of your visit there?

We will publish it on Arsenal Analysis so that the rest of the visitors on the site can read up about it.

Either leave a message/comment here on the site or contact me on arsenalanalysis@live.com

Anonymous said...

Very unlikely. Wenger likes to go for younger players plus most of his transfers is completely out of the blue.

Anonymous said...

sorry mate, but Russian player of the year was Zirjanov. And yes, Arshavin is a good player, but he has big problems in the head.


Valkeru

Anonymous said...

If the 3 offers are supposedly from "strong" Euro teams then Tottenham surely can't be one of them, as they don't fit that criteria.

Anonymous said...

BUY A GOALKEEPER...SAY BYE-BYE TO FLAMINI NOW TO HLEB AND NEXT DAY TO CESC. BECAUSE WE HAVE ALMUNIA AND WITH ALMUNIA 4 YEARS NOW WE HAVENT WON NOTHING. GREAT KEEPER.

BUY A KEEPER LIKE GOMEZ

ALMUNIA IS SO BAD

Anonymous said...

It's funny to hear such judgements after one game.
Hleb isn't going anywhere, just read his agent's new comments and you will understand that the whole thing was just out of proprtion by the media.

Arsenal needs a NEW GOALKEEPER, with Almunia we'll win nothing. We need as well a new Center Back to replace Gallas, he's not good enough to be in Arsenal. Third we need a Left Winger and I hope Ben Arfa will sign with Arsenal soon.

Anonymous said...

Arse-shavin'!!
we should just sign him for his name =)

Anonymous said...

Useful when we get to "squeaky bum time" at the end of the season

Anonymous said...

AGREE. CENTER BACK AND GOALKEEPER FOR SURE. WENGER IS SLEEPING FOR YEARS NOW. HE MAKE ALMUNIA NO1 AT THE AGE OF 27. WENGER F*CK WITH US.

BUY A KEEPER MAN

Anonymous said...

If im in the situation of the owner of this blog. I dont know how to post this kind of topic. he has a nice idea.

Anonymous said...

Wenger deserves what he has sown. He didn't sign Flam last summer and then let Diarrhea sign mid-year: idiot.

Happy that Flam will only play in the UEFA Cup next year, however! LOL.

Lorik Cana would be my choice over Y. Toure, Appiah or Barry.

Would Wenger break the bank to sign Kaka if Helato left? Nah.

Nasri and B-A are o.k., but only Robinho is a sure goal-maker and Arshavin also is solid: Ronaldo and Ribery are only better.

Why the f**k loan out Traore and Song on loan, idiot? We need coverage.

Would like to see Thuram in the squad and back up for Richards (if Eriksson actually leaves).

I'm sick of seeing Drogba or other big striker score on us.

And we need a first-rate keeper (Coupet or Frey?)!

Most English players are rubbish and overvalued these days, excluding some of the youngsters Walcott, Lennon, Bale, Huddlestone.

My 2 pence.

Anonymous said...

Greatings from St Pet, Russia!
I am glad he has finally signed to Gunners.
There is a player in Dynamo Moscow - Kerzhakov. His former teammate and friend. They were absolutely brilliant pair those days, a lot of goals. Understanding on pitch by a glance. Why not to buy Kerzh in addition to Arshi this summer?