Andrey Arshavin seems acutely aware that we need a top striker back in action or must recruit one in the transfer window if we are to challenge for honours this season.
And this morning’s Daily Mirror claims Russia star Arshavin knows the odds are stacked against us because of our injury list including Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott.
The paper points out that Arshavin has been playing as a makeshift striker but realises this can’t go on. He said: “My greatest dream is to win a title with my club. Naturally, it would be better if we won the Premier League or the Champions League.But to do this we need a miracle – which is to start playing finally with our optimal line up. I do not think we have had it once so far this season.”
Let’s not kid ourselves here about B52 — it seems that because he is injured we are starting to get all misty-eyed about the Danish pastry. Fact is, fit or not he just ain’t good enough for the Arsenal. As Arshavin might say: Simples.
But despite a lack of bodies at the Emirates, Arshavin tells this morning’s Daily Star that AW will not be bringing in reinforcements.
He said: “I have a feeling that Arsenal are not going to buy any new players in the winter transfer window. Or, if we do, it will be at the very last moment.”
Arshavin also claims he is currently playing on one foot because of an injury he aggravated on international duty. The 28-year-old said: “Although my right foot hurts me much less than before, I still try to avoid kicking the ball with it during training.” Try swinging it in the general direction of Manuel Almunia’s gonads and do us all a favour.
Talking of Cesc, this morning’s Sun carries quotes from the Spaniard suggesting he may be back for the Bolton game at the weekend. He said: “My hamstring feels 100 per cent now. There is no point rushing it and Bolton away is a reasonable target for me.
“The snow may have disrupted the football, but it hasn’t interrupted my rehab. I was running in the snow with physio David Wales and I wish someone was there to take a photo. Everything was white, it was an unbelievable scene, just two of us in the middle of four pitches. It was a nice experience, but also hard work, so hopefully it’ll pay off.”
Pay off? Hmm. Hope he isn’t talking about getting fit enough for the World Cup and a subsequent move back to Spain here.
Some dodgier-than-Sagna’s-Barnet-type transfer speculation in today’s Daily Mail with a yarn that we are weighing up a move for Everton striker Louis Saha after it became clear his contract negotiations have hit an impasse.
The paper says Everton are unhappy at the Frenchman’s demands for a new £60,000-a-week deal that would span up to three more years. Well they would be…they haven’t got a pot to piss in but do have plenty of apre hubcaps I am told. It adds that we are monitoring his situation, knowing that he is a free agent in the summer.
The tabloid claims that although Saha is 31 but that we are willing to compromise their stance on offering just one-year contracts to players over 30 and would look at a two-year deal with a one-year option.
It points out that AW hailed Saha last week when discussing strikers for France’s World Cup squad. He said: ‘When Saha plays 10 games on the trot you can compare him with any striker.’
Spot on AW…it’s playing those ten games though, isn’t it. Saha? I’d rather we re-signed Kanu until the end of the season. Come to think of it what is Davor Suker doing these days…?
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