The Arshavin deal had been ratified.
It’s been confirmed by a short statement by the parent company at 16.45 pm.
ARSENAL HOLDINGS PLC – Signing of International Midfielder
Arsenal Holdings plc is pleased to confirm that its subsidiary The Arsenal Football Club plc (“Arsenal”) has agreed the transfer of Russian international Andrey Arshavin from FC Zenit St Petersburg.
Andrey has entered into a long term agreement with Arsenal.
The deal is for three and a half years.
If Arsenal have the ambition to sign a world class keeper, a world class centreback and a world class ball-winner, the club could start winning major trophies again.
The arrival of Arshavin gives us someone to talk about and write about.
If the Russian is successful, it might persuade the professor to look beyond France and Africa. Those territories are Wenger’s comfort zones. Players from outside those territories have often been disappointing under him, apart from Overmars and Fabregas
The expensive Jose Antonio Reyes was electric at first but he arrived after Thierry Henry had become an unmanageable diva, so Reyes had no chance. It’s one of the great myths that Reyes was demoralised by the kicking he got from the Neville brothers at Old Trafford. That is complete garbage. Their brutality was not the reason Reyes faded and left.
In my considered opinion, Arshavin will prosper because he does not have to play in the shadow of Henry or anyone like that. It’s just a tragedy that the team he’s joining doesn’t have a Nemanja Vidic and a Stefan Schwarz.
Precisely 34 days ago I wrote Two-footed Arshavin is a Russian Robbie Pires.