Serie A giants Lazio have formally denied any interest in signing Russian winger Andrei Arshavin this January.
Struggling for form in the Premier League the 30-year-old had been linked with a £6 million move to the Italian capital despite the fact Arsene Wenger is short on options on the left wing following Gervinho’s departure for the African Cup of Nations.
Nevertheless, nipping the tittle-tattle in the bud, Lazio sporting director Igli Tare stated today: “Arshavin is a great player and I think everyone would like to have him in their squad.
“But I don’t think there is any chance of seeing him in a Lazio shirt. There are a number of reasons why it would be difficult.
“We have never spoken with Arsenal and perhaps more importantly, I don’t think they would want to part with a top player.”
The Evening Standard claims that Arshavin held a meeting with Arsene Wenger this week in which the midfielder’s future was discussed. With only 18 months left on his contract it remains to be seen whether the Gunners put a new deal on the table or if they will look to cut their losses on a player who cost upwards of £15 million three years ago.
Arshavin has gone on the record in the recent past stating his intention to play again for Zenit St Petersburg before he hangs up his boots. Given their financial muscle and emotional tie with the player they remain the outstanding favourites to rescue the Russian national team captain from his London malaise.
“I don’t think they would want to part with a top player.”
Is he talking about Arshavin??
It does sound a little tongue in cheek.
We wouldn’t indulge a cheeky back-hander to boost transfer value would we? Surely not
Give ramsey rest and move him to his position just for once. He is still a quality player and the only club he will go back to is zenit. So for now give him support.
It couldn’t hurt could it. Sounds very sensible. So no chance of it happening.
Looks like Wenger is definitely persisting with all the attacking players he has until the end of the season. I really thought, pre-January, that 4th place being in danger would make the club act (like in 2009), but it seems not. I don’t get it.
He had a free role for Russia against us (Ireland) during the summer and he was very good and very involved in everything Russia did. He looked like a different player to the one that turns out for us (The Arsenal). I agree, play him ‘in the hole’ and let him do what he wants.
Over weight, Lazy, Careless with stinking attitude and still gets playing time, HOW?
“I don’t think they would want to part with a top player.”
Probably just saying that so that they it will give them extra motivation if they ever play us and he’s on the field having a typical Arshavin performance.
The day just gets better and better.
Oh pwitty puuuurrrrlease Lazio!!! We’ll even give you Mertesacker and Rosicky for nothing too!
Couldn’t do worse than Ramsey? That got a laugh out of me ‘comedian’. CM is the one position you need a good engine, something AA severely lacks unfortunately. For all Ramsey’s faults (he has a few no doubt) at least he runs & tries…we’d be down to a 2 man midfield if we put AA in there.
Glad they nipped that tittle-tattke. Nipped it good.
Arshavin will not leave for the simple reason that there is no replacement coming. I was reading arseblog’s daily musing this morning and laughed a little when he mentioned Jack being LANS. Only Arsenal fans can understand what it means, and Arsene’s stubbornness has become a kind of inside joke. We all wish he would buy a full-back and striker, but deep inside we know he won’t. I love Arsene for all his faults. You can have his good sides without his bad ones. On a related note, there was an interesting piece in the Guardian today about Adidas not… Read more »
Why do we have to miss in the CL in order for him sign player or someone has to put pressure on him? Do you know the transfer window still have more than 11 day to close?
if you pop “like a new signing” into google you’ll see that in actual fact football fans of every stripe (and, particularly, Everton supporters it seems) have to put up with that particular cliche
although to be fair i think selective myopia is something all fans have
* CAN’T have his good sides without his bad ones.
That’s a shame. Lazy-o almost seems like a perfect match.
Shava would be even more tubby after a year in Italy.
GOOALLLLLLLLLLL LAZIOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!
Arshavin has Zenit DNA.
I honestly feel for AA for his current predicament.Agreed he doesnt work his socks off every game,but his game was like this even before we signed him.He shone for russia and zenit as a central striker who could score outrageous goals and also had brilliant vision to create chances.the one thing needed to bring that magic to arsenal was to play him through the middle,so that he gets max involvement.I think his vision was second only to cesc,though he took greater risks and hence more chance of misplaced passes.but AW has stubbornly refused to play him anywhere other than left… Read more »
why do we bother speculating any departures. only a couple of clubs are truly interested in signing our flops. anzhi wants arshavin and bordeaux wants chamakh. but either player doesnt want to step back down a level nor do i think wenger would let arshavin go for cheap. we also have other players that we should sell. ahem whats his name? the one that has a ego bigger than mount fuji, oh yes! bend her. i dont know if sunderland would want to sign bendtner after his loan expires but so far as i can tell we are definately not… Read more »
Plzzz plzzzz Lazio buy him. We would even give him to you for free just take him of our hands before he plays another game