Andrey Arshavin’s application at training has also been questioned by sources close to Arsenal.
Wednesday January 18,2012
ARSENE WENGER and his Arsenal squad have finally lost patience with lazy flop Andrey Arshavin.Arsenal boss Wenger has shelved plans to offer Arshavin an extension to his contract that runs out next year and the Russian’s team-mates have grown frustrated with his lacklustre performances.
Gervinho’s stint in the African Nations Cup may prevent Wenger from selling Arshavin this month, but it now seems certain the forward’s hopes of a long-term future at Arsenal are over.
Lazio are the latest club to show an interest in Arshavin, who is still popular at his former club Zenit St Petersburg and is a target of Anzhi Makhachkala.
Arshavin has been out of form for the past year, but the tipping point came in Sunday’s defeat by Swansea when the 30-year-old offered no help to rookie makeshift left-back Ignasi Miquel.
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 Lazio are the latest club to show an interest in Andrey Arshavin, who is still popular at his former club Zenit St Petersburg and is a target of Anzhi Makhachkala.  |
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Central defender Miquel, on the left because of injuries, suffered a torrid time trying to stop winger Nathan Dyer. But the Arsenal players were astounded at how little protection Arshavin, playing in front of Miquel, 19, offered his team-mate and were disappointed by his general attitude.
Arshavin’s application at training has also been questioned by sources close to the club.
Despite the fact he set up Robin van Persie’s opening goal, Wenger displayed his disappointment in Arshavin by dragging him off just after the hour mark.
The club are trying to open talks with Theo Walcott to sign a new contract and will fight desperately to try to keep Van Persie at the end of the season.
Arshavin’s current contract also expires in June 2013, but Wenger clearly indicated he will have been offloaded well before then.
When asked whether Arshavin will be offered a new deal, Wenger replied bleakly: “He is a bit older than Van Persie.”
Working as an ambassador for Castrol, Wenger followed Arshavin and his Russia team around the 2008 European Championships before signing him.
Wenger was dismayed by the general quality but was captivated by the Russians and, in particular, their 5ft 7in playmaker.
The 3-1 win over Holland in Basle, in which Arshavin capped a spellbinding performance by scoring Russia’s third goal and celebrating into a camera, was undoubtedly the high point. But there came a warning from Russian journalist Anton Lisin, working for Sovietsky Sport, who said: “During this tournament, Arshavin has been like Cinderella. But nobody quite knows whether, when the clock strikes midnight, he will stay a princess or turn back into a pumpkin.”
Four goals at Liverpool in April 2009, soon after joining, remains Arshavin’s Arsenal highlight. He also scored a first-leg winner in the Champions League against Barcelona last term, but there has been precious little else.
Arshavin himself admitted in November: “Speaking honestly, I think my performances for Arsenal have been average.”
The fact Wenger spent a club record £15million on Arshavin three years ago for such little return can perhaps partly explain why the Frenchman has been so reluctant to splash the cash ever since.
On Arshavin’s shocking form, Wenger said: “He needs to play with confidence and freedom, that is his strength. He is a creative player and you need that fraction of belief and confidence to play with freedom.
“He has always been a player who plays on the borderline. He is a big gambler. Sometimes the visual impression you get from a game has been frustrating, but he can be very efficient.”
For Wenger and the majority of his players, the pumpkin moment came at Swansea when Arshavin left Miquel in the lurch. There is no happy ending on the horizon for Arsenal’s Cinderella man.
ARSENAL are sweating on the fitness of Mikel Arteta (calf) ahead of Sunday’s game against Manchester United.