He may be a shadow of the player we thought we’d signed back in 2009, but Andrey Arshavin can still count on a glowing reference from Arsene Wenger when his contract at the Emirates expires next summer.
Slamming suggestions that the Russian has been anything other than professional during his slump in form, the boss made clear that he still believes the midfielder is a ‘classy player’ capable of game-changing moments.
Directing attention towards Arshavin’s cross against QPR, which led to Mikel Arteta’s late winner, Wenger made clear he was still admirer of the 31-year-old.
“Andrey comes in every day and practices well, he is focused and wants to do well,” he told Arsenal.com.
“I insist on this, because it was questioned and it is completely unjustified. In this case perception is not reality.
“I say that because [his attitude] has been questioned. I don’t tolerate that. If that was the case I would not speak about it.
“He is a classy player and a top professional with a great attitude. You could see that when he came on [against QPR], his brightness and his intelligence with the final ball is fantastic.”
Arshavin will play this evening against Reading in the Capital One Cup as Wenger leads his mish-mash team to the Majedski Stadium. After a terrible first half against Coventry City in the last round the former Zenit St Petersburg star earned plaudits for his goal and assists in the second 45 minutes as the Gunners ran out comfortable 6-1 winners.
More of the same wouldn’t go amiss this evening…
____
(Apologies to Arsene for making him sound like Sssssccchhhteve McClaren in the title)
Arshavin, We hope the commentators scream your name once again.
Ding dong.
For me that arrssshaaavvvin scream, after he scored the 2nd goal against Barca at the Grove, still rings in my ear. I will never ever forget it.
i want to sing …He’s five foot four….He’s five foot foouurr….
Saturday’s game against QPR highlighted what Arshavin provides for us as a player. He comes up with a gem of a cross to show his class,then he fails to track Mackie who then Arteta tries to scramble after and we almost concede,When he improves the second part, only then will he be able to start regularly for us.
Andrei the giant………in a cute small and cuddly way!
In the picture you got there, Kocielny looks like he’s simmering at a high heat while Arshavin is walking on sunshine.But one should never question someone’s professionalism based on a few pics or a you tube clip. We all know what Arshavin can do and he does it with ease and world beating talent. The first team squad needs competent willing and able replacements, like Jenkinson has proved this term and like Koscielny and Rosicky proved last term. Is anyone willing to add Arshavin to this list now? He may be competent and willing at the best of times but… Read more »
I can’t understand why we are not using arshavin more in the league. He is definitely more capable than someone like Gervinho. And i think with Jack back and Cazorla alongside Arshavin can shine again. His work rate is really disappointing but he is still more than capable of creating an impact. Some fans are too critical of him. In the 2010-11 Na$ri supposedly had a smashing season and had 15 goals and 5 assists. Arshavin was supposed to be a flop with 10 goals and 17 assists.
Adam Ant
Arshavin, arshavin ridicule is nothing to be scared of.
I’ll see myself out 🙁
Arshavin is simply our saviour.
I remember the Sunderlaznd game, came in and delivered a sweet sweet cross for Legend Henry, saved our arses there.
Again Vs Qpr, he did the same. 1 moment of brilliance out of say 3 chances he got. I’ll take that over Gervs 1 in 20 chance presented to him!. (Gerv crossing the ball right into the defender, annoys the shit outta me)
I just don’t understand this whole theory of putting a player down to praise another player…..And Gervinho’s been one of the top scorers for us this season so that criticism is a bit misplaced. Bottom line is that they are two very different ‘type’ of players….
Would be interesting to see if theo will finally get his wish to play as a forward today. If wenger selects chamakah ahead of him as a forward then he forget about it for good
Judging by his expression in this photo, I can only hope that Kozza’s bright comments last season about his glee at signing a new contract and desire to be at Arsenal for “life” or similar, is still the case!
Arshavin is a better finisher than Gervinho; just a shame he has a lazy attitude!
Did you read the article at all?
yes but he has a lazy attitude on the pitch
I want him to be involved in the team either as a cam or striker he will get us goals.
When we see opposition just focus on stopping us outside their D Arshavin comes in handy but that doesnt mean we throw him as a sub at 84 th minute.
I would love too see him and cazorla and jack together that would be a very creative team capable to unlock any defence.
He needs to take his chance. Far more talent than Gervinho………..when he puts a shift in.
Gervihno……….he just gives me the ump!
The bloke is lazy and uninterested. But if any player owes arsene then it’s arshavin. Wenger doesn’t deserve the sort of performances he has put in. He has always said good things about the guy and gets nothing back.
Great player just not for us – gives nothing defensively – lacks luster & gave me the impression that he was not going to turn it on as best he could – in order to show up the lesser players he had around him.
He is the best in the team at crossing by a distance. He doesn’t whip a blind ball in, he thinks about the cross. It is an incredibly difficult thing to do and there is as much art to a cross as there is to a strike. Sadly it’s what our players lack. Maybe he can ‘pass’ it on to the younger players before he retires.
I hope he has a second wind. A tight formation with Arshavin linking with Cazorla and Wilshere is a really nice dream.
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Arshavin frustrates us fans the most because we know he has the ability, however his work rate is lacking. How many times have we seen him dribble through defenders only to be tackled last minute and seeing his head drop and not track back? He has the quality. Arsene knows this, hence why he hasnt sold him straight away and keeps him on the bench. Unfortunately, unless we see a miraculous change of spirit, hell end up being another player who ended up not being what he could be due to his own doing.
Seeing ‘Cl-Arshy’ in the title I decided that it must be Connery as Bond saying ‘classy’. It’s tough out there for us dumbarses.
I’d love to believe Wenger about HalfArsh, and doubt his repeated defense is baseless. But with our leader becoming trickier in his dotage, it’s likely to be mainly about building confidence, and maybe an advert to nudge some desparado to pay A’s wages from Jan.