Premier League - Zenit: Arsenal want Arshavin

Eurosport - Wed, 07 Jan 13:29:00 2009

Arsenal look set to step up their bid to land Andrei Arshavin after Zenit St Petersburg coach Dick Advocaat admitted he was resigned to losing the Russian playmaker.

FOOTBALL Andrei Arshavin 2009 - all versions - 0

The 27-year-old has been a target for a number of Europe's top clubs since his excellent displays at Euro 2008, and has long been on the radar of Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

However, a stumbling block may well be over the reported £20 million fee and excessive wages package Arshavin currently commands.

Zenit boss Advocaat certainly does not expect to have Arshavin at his disposal for much longer.

"I am aware that Arsenal are interested, but I do not know any more than that. However, I am expecting Arshavin to leave Zenit for another club," the former Rangers boss said.

"He is a top player and he could play for any team and any of the top teams in England, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea or Liverpool.

"Arshavin played well for us last season but he didn't play as well as he can. There is still more to come from him and people will see that."

Advocaat added: "In principle, I have already bought Arshavin's successor, Danny, because I thought Arshavin was going to leave last year. Danny can play in the same position as Arshavin so we won't be disrupted when he goes."

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has some money to spend should he wish to strengthen the squad during the January transfer window, although whether his budget would be enough to cover the package needed to lure a player such as Arshavin to the Emirates Stadium remains to be seen.

The Arsenal manager maintains business will be done only for an "exceptional talent", and indicated being cup-tied for the Champions League knock-out phase would not deter Wenger if it meant signing a quality player.

He said: "I would like to think longer term.

"If the right player comes in, even if he is not available for the Champions League, his class is more important for me."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. even i believe that arshavin is better to play asernal­ for long agreement,i know that aserne wenger ­ have the last judgement than me ,also its verry­ important to close the position of fabrigas who have­ the injury,Im in tanzania.

    From felixrichard53, on Thu 8 Jan 9:23AM

  2. even i believe that arshavin is better to play asernal­ for long agreement,i know that aserne wenger ­ have the last judgement than me ,also its verry­ important to close the position of fabrigas who have­ the injury,Im in tanzania.

    From felixrichard53, on Thu 8 Jan 9:14AM

  3. Wouldn`t arsenal be better signing Kris Boyd, He would­ be a sensational goal machine in their line-up. I can`t­ believe Rangers are selling him- He scores for fun!
    Go­ on arsene- make my day.

    From tictoc67, on Wed 7 Jan 9:22PM

  4. i need my arshavin!! but i wouldn't pay 20m!! good­ buy for arsenal tho.

    From ., on Wed 7 Jan 8:20PM

  5. I'm an open minded girl from US, I'm interested­ in exotic things, photography, dating and sports...I­ have my photos on --- Tallhub Co m ---, I love tall­ guys!
    Do you love traveling and have some experience?­ Just find me out.

    From Xioasd S, on Wed 7 Jan 5:22PM

  6. i think wenger iz not realy feelin well at the moment ­ he iz not sobber i hope he will get up n raeliz­ the different
    between 20million and arshavin pliz­ don't do that wenger

    From Hezron, on Wed 7 Jan 4:14PM

  7. ANDREI ARSHAVIN IS A CLASS ACT, HOW CAN U ENGLISH­ DIDDIES SAY HES A WASTE OF MONEY WHEN YOU PROBABLY­ HAVENT EVEN SEEN HIM PLAY BEFORE

    From Chunk, on Wed 7 Jan 1:24PM

  8. there is no panic buying in Arshvin whatsoever.. Wenger­ has been after him for a while. He will be a good asset­ to our squad and his style of play will boost our­ midfield. Im all for him and one more big name would be­ lovely!

    From Jamie, on Wed 7 Jan 1:20PM

  9. let arsenal have him,he is a very over rated player,i­ thought wenger was shrewd in the transfer market,but ih­ he wants to waste 20 mill plus excessive wages on a 2­ bit player,then perhaps the cracks are showing on­ wenger and is resorting to panic buying.

    From , on Wed 7 Jan 1:13PM

  10. yo im a guy which loves sports and im lookin for a gal

    From k_master, on Wed 7 Jan 1:13PM

  11. arshavin is a talented player but not worth more tha­ 8-10 million in my opinion. arsenal need a defensive­ midfielder like yaya toure or even scott parker just to­ fill the gap left by flamini!! also gallas must go, he­ is not half the player he was at chelsea, some1 like­ raul albiol of valencia is required!

    From mason convicted, on Wed 7 Jan 1:11PM

  12. Arshavin will be a very gud buy for arsenal (what we­ needed) but we still need a powerful defensive­ midfielder,2 central defenders then sell gallas bcos he­ causes soo much problem for d team ON and OFF d­ pitch.We also need to sell bentner and buy a more­ powerful striker as tall as him,quick and forceful bcos­ without adebayor arsenal's attack has no bite. From­ STEVE

    From AngelMamaGyrl, on Wed 7 Jan 1:07PM

  13. Arshavin will be a very gud buy for arsenal (what we­ needed) but we still need a powerful defensive­ midfielder,2 central defenders then sell gallas bcos he­ causes soo much problem for d team ON and OFF d­ pitch.We also need to sell bentner and buy a more­ powerful striker as tall as him,quick and forceful bcos­ without adebayor arsenal's attack has no bite. From­ STEVE

    From AngelMamaGyrl, on Wed 7 Jan 1:06PM

  14. Why do people judge a player,s quality by an appearance­ in competitions where only 8 matches are played.In my­ opinion Arshavin is not worth the money been thrown­ around by the media or is it his own club.I will bet my­ last penny that Arsene Wenger will not buy him for that­ amount of money.If he was that good why didn,t the­ Spanish top clubs he was linked buy him.He is just­ overated for his appearance at Euro 2008.He is not the­ type of player Arsenal needs in this difficult­ time.They need good central defenders.Djourou and­ Silvestre are not good enough.

    From valach, on Wed 7 Jan 1:03PM

  15. Arshavin will be a very gud buy for arsenal (what we­ needed) but we still need a powerful defensive­ midfielder,2 central defenders then sell gallas bcos he­ causes soo much problem for d team ON and OFF d­ pitch.We also need to sell bentner and buy a more­ powerful striker as tall as him,quick and forceful bcos­ without adebayor arsenal's attack has no bite.

    From AngelMamaGyrl, on Wed 7 Jan 1:02PM

  16. Hleb overated in my opinion decent player but nothing­ special, he was lucky play for Arsenal under a manager­ like Wenger he is an advocate free expressive football­ he was not majestic, if we get arshavin he would be­ able to do what Hleb wish he could do and what Bergkamp­ did make North London and the premier leauge his­ playground.

    From Carl, on Wed 7 Jan 12:17PM

  17. Great Arsenal!!! Great!!! i think we need that guy this­ January window.
    @sexyhotder332, i will also like to­ meet you as soon as possible you can reach me on­ +2347030771707 i love someone like you

    From Solomom, on Wed 7 Jan 12:05PM

  18. #92 dercute, With respect, you are talking nonsense.­ Since Belarus and Ukraine from whence Alexander Hleb­ and Oleg Luzhny respectively originated were formerly­ part of Russia, by your own admission you ought to have­ done away with yourself many years ago.

    From Simon P, on Wed 7 Jan 12:03PM

  19. IN ARSENE WE TRUST.

    From freejrs, on Wed 7 Jan 11:58AM

  20. in wenger we trust

    From amirul_ridzuan, on Wed 7 Jan 11:43AM
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