Arsenal Action

[Craigie]

I have nothing against him liking Barcelona and no I don't think he said at this moment in time that he wants to leave Arsenal to play for Barcelona. Obviously Russian translations will always be bullshit.

But I don't think any modern footballer should be expected to be loyal to a team for their whole lives or "love" the team just because they play for them when it's not their childhood team. I don't scrutinise players for talking to the media. Quite the contrary, I like it when players are honest. Even if he said he would love to play for Barcelona, who cares, so would I.

I haven't said "he doesn't love us, sell him". What I have against him is the fact that when he plays for us he doesn't always try very hard, which is a major reason that the fans got on players like Adebayor. Even when Adebayor scored 25 league goals in a season he was slated by many on this very forum for all the ones he missed.

[cerbera]

I have nothing against him liking Barcelona and no I don't think he said at this moment in time that he wants to leave Arsenal to play for Barcelona. Obviously Russian translations will always be bullshit.

But I don't think any modern footballer should be expected to be loyal to a team for their whole lives or "love" the team just because they play for them when it's not their childhood team. I don't scrutinise players for talking to the media. Quite the contrary, I like it when players are honest. Even if he said he would love to play for Barcelona, who cares, so would I.

I haven't said "he doesn't love us, sell him". What I have against him is the fact that when he plays for us he doesn't always try very hard, which is a major reason that the fans got on players like Adebayor. Even when Adebayor scored 25 league goals in a season he was slated by many on this very forum for all the ones he missed.

But it's not as if he didn't contribute this season. He's scored 11 goals this season and had 9 assists. We couldn't possibly ask more of him when he got two significant injuries this season and also was being played in a position where his height (or lack thereof) put him at a major disadvantage. There's no need to single him out for criticism. There are far lazier people in this Arsenal team and if you're gonna talk about laziness, their names should be called first.

It's funny how when he bagged 4 goals in a game where everyone else flopped around and when he grabbed victory from the hands of defeat last November against Liverpool no one thought he was lazy and everyone wanted to have his child. Now that a dubious (mis)quote has come out everyone suddenly starts cutting a switch for his back.

[Reddaz]

I love Andrei Arshavin. I think he is top class, he just needs height upfront to support him so he can show his full potential. Messi is top draw but I bet he would struggle upfront on his own too.

[Gaffer]

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he has been left disappointed by comments from Andrey Arshavin revealing the Russian's admiration for Barcelona - and maintains all of his players should respect their own club.

The 28-year-old - signed from Zenit St Petersburg during January last year - is currently battling to be fit due to a calf problem, and may not make the trip to Blackburn on Monday night.

Earlier this week, though, the Russian playmaker talked up Barcelona, who knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League, and claimed playing for the Spanish giants at some stage would be "would be the peak of my career".

It is not the first time such quotes attributed to Arshavin have hit the headlines, the Russian having questioned Arsenal's direction more than once during a season of frustration.

While Wenger continues to take such stories with a pinch of salt, given their source from overseas, the Arsenal manager firmly believes his team must commit 100 per cent to the Gunners' cause.

"Yes, I am very disappointed because he shows a completely different attitude," said Wenger.

"He wants to extend his contract with us and stay with us, so the noise coming out of Russia is very difficult to explain.

"He looks to be very happy here, so you should ask him where it comes from."

Wenger declared: "We do not, of course, accept that. When you are at Arsenal, you are at Arsenal. When you are somewhere else, you are somewhere else.

"I believe that your pride makes first that you defend your club.

"Everybody has the freedom to speak, but you want to make sure first of all that you respect your club."

Wenger, though, reflected: "I just put one question mark behind the things that come back translated.

"Usually you have direct access to him, you can ask him where that comes from.

"I don't forbid you to talk to him, but I take with a little bit of distance what comes back translated sometimes with the help of some agents who want to move the players."

Wenger, though, concedes he will need to strengthen his squad after another campaign, which was blighted by injury to key men, failed to deliver a trophy.

http://www.football365.com/story/0,1703 ... 35,00.html

[damir]

it's not only Arshavin,I think the whole team has admiration about Barca,that was visible in the games against Barca too

[cerbera]

it's not only Arshavin,I think the whole team has admiration about Barca,that was visible in the games against Barca too

Lmao, it was pretty evident when Almunia watched the ball during Messi's first goal like it was a work of art.

[Gaffer]

Andrey Arshavin’s contradictory agent has once again stirred up speculation that the 28-year-old will be leaving Arsenal in the coming months, by refusing to rule out a summer move to Barcelona.

Earlier last week the Russia international heaped praise on Barcelona and said playing for the Spanish champions at some stage “would be the peak of my career”.

The Russian midfielder’s representitive [pictured right], who rebuffed those claims several weeks ago, told Gooner Talk that “time will tell” on whether yesterday’s article in The People article was true or not.

Arshavin, who turns 29 next month, could have easily ended up in the Catalan capital instead of London following his impressive performances at Euro 2008, where he helped Russia to the semi-finals.

Barcelona’s bid for the gifted playmaker was rejected by Zenit St Petersburg in July, 2008, before he joined Arsenal in January last year.

http://goonertalk.com/2010/05/03/arshav ... lona-move/

[Gaffer]

Arsenal midfield ace Andrey Arshavin has declared he and Gael Clichy will be moving to Barcelona.

The Russia international is quoted in the People insisting both he and fullback Clichy will be moving to the Nou Camp in the summer.

Arshavin, said: "I am going to Barcelona in the summer.

"I have always dreamed about going to Spain and playing for the best team in the world.

''They were unsure about me when I was playing in Russia but I have shown them that I'm the real deal and I know they are ready to talk to me.

"I want to play for the top team and be trying to win every competition, I don't think you can rate one better than the other, it is all about winning. I want to play for them and that is never going to change.

"I know Gael Clichy would love to play out there as well, and he would work well in their team.

"It would be tough trying to compete with Xavi and Iniesta but that is the competition I want, I don't want to walk into a team."

http://www.tribalfootball.com/arsenal-s ... ona-813111

[Gunner_X5]

Clichy wouldnt go as Abidal keeps him out of the french team it would be a stupid move. I wouldnt be too oposed for andrey going tbh, as he is nearing 30 and we could get a huge fee for him now. But that'll only be beneficial if we buy another winger out of it.

[Craigie]

I can't think this is anything but sheer fabrication.

Why would he say pointless like this a day after denying saying anything and all those comments are boastful and arrogant and I'm sure Arshavin knows his own game well enough to know that Xavi will never be his competition, and that he would be replacing Henry and competing with Iniesta (which he will never be able to do), Messi (the same) and Pedro. If he went there I could see him doing a Hleb. There is no reason for them to interrupt Pedro's progress by playing Arshavin.

Abidal is an athletic player and will probably only have 1 good season in him. Clichy is the obvious replacement, but IMO only Fabregas or van Persie would add anything to Barcelona.