'I want to keep Arshavin at the Club'
By Chris Harris
Arsène Wenger wants Andrey Arshavin to stay with Arsenal.
The Russian playmaker was an instant hit in the Premier League after joining the Gunners in January 2009 but has struggled to find his best form in recent months after a solid start to the campaign.
Arshavin is still contributing to Arsenal's quest for honours - he set up two goals in the Carling Cup Semi-Final against Ipswich on Tuesday - but some have questioned whether he his future lies at Emirates Stadium.
Wenger is not one of those people. "There is no question I want to keep him at the Club," said the Frenchman.
"I like him and I think he is a special player. He is going through a period which is a bit more difficult for him.
"But if you want to be successful you need players in your squad who can turn games around and he has played many games since the start of the season and is one of the top passers.
"I want to keep him until the end of his contract. Do we extend it after that? He will be 32 at the end of that - we will see that in a year."