Andre Arshavin isn’t the player he once was. I think all of us would agree. It got me thinking: is he on his way out in the summer? After all, he is entering the final year of his current deal.
Zenit St Petersburg coach Luciano Spalletti has expressed an interest in taking the Russian back to his boyhood idols and, after what will have been a big pay day and a fantastic platform for his ‘brand’, could Arshavin’s on-field lethargy be linked to a homesickness and will to leave us? He would return a national hero having blazed a trail for Russian exports. And a return to a comfort zone may well reproduce the consistent form that attracted AW in the first place.
Look, let’s get one thing straight: he has all the ability in the world and is very much a potential match winner and has proved as much for us on numerous occasions. But ultimately it seems to me and supporters I know who watch every game that he lacks a certain discipline in his work ethic. And we won’t mention his numerous aimless back heels.
Whatever, Arshavin is certainly at a crossroads at the end of the season. He has spoken openly about his frustration at being withdrawn from the side so often and that can lead us to assume that both the manager and player possibly don’t have the same faith in each other than they once did. Also, he is almost 30 and we know, regretably only too well, AW’s policy on players in and around that age bracket.
Zenit have the financial clout to lure him. Arshavin may have the inclination. And we know for a fact that AW has to build. And to build he first has to sell. He has given us some wonder goals and an infectious smile but that hasn’t led to silverware. If he were to leave my only regret was that he couldn’t help us to win a trophy. Then again as far as the Premier League trophy is concerned we are still in the running. Just. See you on the Blackppol Mile!
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