Andrei Arshavin is a footballer of genius.
When Arshavin turns it on, its a masterclass. His vision, balance and two-footed skills make him a match-winner.
Like Robbie Pires, he’s a dribbling playmaker.
Like Pires, he can see angles and spaces while he’s running with the ball.
Like Pires, he’s a clinical finisher.
However, the way Zenit St Petersburg play is nothing like the way Arsenal play. Zenit attack the bye-line with overlapping full backs and cut the ball back to unmarked runners, or hit it low across the six-yard box. He also picks out his mate Denisov, who makes well-timed runs into the box like Lampard and Jenas.
Arshavin, like Zenit, has been the victim of the Russian football calendar.
They peaked in November 2007 when they won the title and qualified for the Champions League. Arshavin started every game, scored 10 goals, provided 11 assists. But the CL had already started, so they had qualified for the next CL, starting in autumn 2008.
In August 2008, Spurs and others were negotiating for him.When Zenit met Manchester United in Monaco, he didn’t start. Neither did Man Utd, who were 1-0 down at half time. Arshavin replace Dominguez at half time and within seconds she took on Vidic in the box and turned him inside out. Then Danny ran at Rio Ferdinand and buried a shot for 2-0. Arshavin didn’t do a lot and he had not started because coach Dick Advocaat said his mind was on a move, not the game. Vidic got a goal back but Zenit St Petersburg won the Super Cup.
When the Champions League finally came round for Zenit, they got a very tough group and didn’t win a game.
Would signing Arshavin for £18 million be a good idea?
Yes, because he’s a two-footed player of genius.
But has any Russian or Ukrainian done well over here? Rebrov, Luhzny, Shevchenko were nowhere near as good as they were for Dynamo Kiev.
Also, remember one of George Graham’s mantras : never judge a player in internationals.
Arshavin is 27 and the real deal. He has no re-sale value but he could make a good team great.
Unfortunately, Arsenal only have 50% of a good team. Arshavin could combine very well with Walcott and Fabregas and Clichy. And he could combine very well with Bergkamp, Anelka and Vieira. But could Arshavin combine so well with strikers as clumsy as Adebayor and Robin van Persie?
Hill-Wood says cash is limited for Wenger, so we may never find out.
In the summer I wrote Why Arshavin is the best player in Euro 2008.