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

Comment 69 - 88 of 128

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  1. Wenger is a man i respect both in decisions and­ actions.Arshavin is a player any day anytime.go ahead­ and get him in ur payroll,football prof.

    From emmanuel sah, on Tue 6 Jan 10:13PM

  2. gale force winds would probably end arshavins career

    From Danny, on Tue 6 Jan 9:37PM

  3. i think arshavin is a good signing because stand in for­ cesc fabregas and we need to strenghten our­ squad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! face the facts we need­ him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @ arsenal

    From boatengm, on Tue 6 Jan 9:22PM

  4. Joshua of 68 is right in his comment but only confined­ to the facts that Man City, Spurs and Man Utd had­ actually made bigger offers than Arsenal on Ashavin. ­ However Dirk Nicolaas Advocaat the great Zenit's­ football team head coach and manager had advised­ Ashavin that he could only excel with Arsenal. Ashavin­ himself knows that he loves to play the Arsenal­ entertaining football style compared to the disarray­ Man City's and the about to be relegated­ Tottenham's mediocre way of playing. Of course he­ knows he could not trust Ferguson as that sly fox had­ just hard done Tevez.

    From eddie idrus, on Tue 6 Jan 9:22PM

  5. Joshua of 68 is right in his comment but only confined­ to the facts that Man City, Spurs and Man Utd had­ actually made bigger offers than Arsenal on Ashavin. ­ However Dirk Nicolaas Advocaat the great Zenit's­ football team head coach and manager had advised­ Ashavin that he could only excel with Arsenal. Ashavin­ himself knows that he loves to play the Arsenal­ entertaining football style compared to the disarray­ Man City's and the about to be relegated­ Tottenham's mediocre way of playing. Of course he­ knows he could not trust Ferguson as that sly fox had­ just hard done Tevez.

    From eddie idrus, on Tue 6 Jan 9:22PM

  6. what are arsenal doing they need a decent midfielder­ not an attacker they have adebyor and van persie they­ dont need another attacker.

    From darrylsellick, on Tue 6 Jan 9:21PM

  7. FFS what the hell is going on he is far to light­ weight!!

    From Alex F, on Tue 6 Jan 9:20PM

  8. we dont need him

    From amibag95, on Tue 6 Jan 9:14PM

  9. Arsnal dont need another flashey player like this. What­ we need is a character like BAllack in the centre of­ the field to command the poncier players like nasri. A­ more forcfull centre back would also do aswell. Upson­ is a good call. English players are needed seen as it­ is the ENGLISH premier league. 1 decent english player­ in a squad of about 30.Not good. CMON GUNNERS GET IT­ TOGETHER.

    From caroline.lopacki, on Tue 6 Jan 8:56PM

  10. This is an unwanted player with the noisiest agent. I­ kept hearing about ''big teams wanting­ him'' for the last 6 months and at the end he­ is now set to replace an injured player, and still the­ move is not complete.

    From Half A Brain, on Tue 6 Jan 8:49PM

  11. it will be like signing alex helb all over again, you­ know arshavin will end up at barcelona 2 seasons down­ the line, pointless signing in my opinion, hes about­ 3ft 9 and doesnt turn up for the big games

    From Danny, on Tue 6 Jan 8:40PM

  12. i think he will be a big asset to the club come on you­ lot you all whine about mr wenger not buying now you­ whine about possible signings can mr wenger win come on­ get behind him and the club look at his past record of­ bringing in viera henry etc so look what he can do good­ luck mr wenger

    From OLIVER, on Tue 6 Jan 8:29PM

  13. He looks like a great player on youtube, we need­ someone with spark and who can win games out of­ nothing. this looks like the guy to me. Im sure­ wenger would get him for less as well.

    those people­ calling for wenger to leave are idiots.

    i think we get­ ashvin in and replace the defenders that want to leave,­ hes sold way too much without replacing them with­ anyone. You cant sell flamini, hleb, henry and not­ replace them, im sure he has a lot of confidence in his­ kids but he needs a big name player for the fans­ anyway.

    From Robie, on Tue 6 Jan 8:22PM

  14. it will be a gamble

    From ihuoma o, on Tue 6 Jan 8:21PM

  15. joshua. stephenson. You talk rubbish. We are just as­ good as Man Utd, Liverpool etc.
    With signings like­ Arsavin we can be better. In order for us to be better­ we need and will attract top quality players as we are­ an excellent club with good prospects. With a manager­ like Wenger we can be the best of the best. Fact.

    From pjjones00, on Tue 6 Jan 8:17PM

  16. Arshavin, I feel he will have the same problem as­ pavelchenko had at the start of the season. Great­ Talent but will find it very difficult to play in the­ english top division with one of the top teams­ especially

    his performances will get better over a­ long period of time.

    From legendstevie, on Tue 6 Jan 8:13PM

  17. good luck Arsenal for Arshavin

    From ahmedfaraah, on Tue 6 Jan 8:11PM

  18. Hmm ok joshua.stephenson. so He should sign for a team­ who is ambitious and can challenge for the league an­ champions league. Well last time i looked arsenal were­ 5th and in the champions league while 2 of the teams u­ mentioned that he should join instead of arsenal, spurs­ who are in 16th place and man city 13th both teams who­ won't have champs league football until the 2010/11­ season at the earliest.

    Ambition doesn't make a­ good team, plenty of lower league teams that are­ ambitious and hope to be in the premier league in the­ near future, should he join them or a team that's­ already there and will be for the forseeable future?

    From alankshort, on Tue 6 Jan 8:06PM

  19. joshua.stephenson shut up.....you haven't a clue­ about football. Still Man U and Spurs Liverpool etc­ have done something Arsenal have not done and thats­ been RELAGATED!!!!! Still thats probably down to lack­ of ambition you prat!!

    From r.j.hall, on Tue 6 Jan 8:05PM

  20. lol

    From nkarim1, on Tue 6 Jan 7:54PM
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