Well written blog post I read as I was curious what the little russian has been up to since he was loaned out. What do you think we should do with him? Personally I'd like him to stay, Ryo is too young, and Arshavin could provide a Benayoun like contribution. On top of that, if we would play him in his natural position as an central attacking forward, we could have another attacking midfielder to rotate.
Arsenal’s Andrei Arshavin is in superb form back at Zenit Posted on May 09, 2012 by admin
The Arshavin Renaissance by Richard Hall
There were only two minutes left when Aleksandr Kerzhakov got the ball on the right hand side, he skilfully flicked the ball over the full back before lobbing the ball into the box with his right foot. As the ball dropped towards the penalty spot it looked as though his pass was in vein. That was until someone with electric pace entered the box and in a flash beat his defender to execute the most spectacular scissor kick. That man was Andrei Arshavin.
Labelled as lazy, disinterested, stubborn and moody, the little Russian was an acquired taste at the Emirates Stadium. Even though he had started his Arsenal career with a bang, this season his performances had even his most staunch supporters scratching their heads. Arsenal’s most expensive signing had promised much since his move from Zenit St Petersburg but before long it became clear to Arsene Wenger and to Arshavin himself that his playing time would be limited. Desperate to play in Euro 2012 the winger decided to return to his former club on loan.
It is here that most expected he would labour on, giving indifferent performances before eventually being bought for a nominal fee. Wenger has said before that the loan was certainly only temporary and a chance for him to regain form. The vocal and complicated Russian has also had things to say about his move and has claimed he ‘will come back’ and on the flip side that ‘Wenger lost faith in me’ whatever the truth he is keeping his options open.
Perhaps the greatest shock for most Arsenal fans will be that Arshavin has grabbed this loan spell with both hands. He has been working with a personal trainer is in free time to get himself in top physical condition and his hard work has paid off. He has played eight times for his home town club scoring twice and the time he has spent on the pitch has been quite simply poetic. His mannerism has changed from a man sat on the floor with his hands in the air, to a quick, energetic player with superb one touch passes and flicks, mixed with deadly runs into space.
In a 2-0 win against CSKA Moscow he came on 53 minutes, immediately he was involved, his one touch passing was superb and on 62 minutes he found space to deliver the perfectly weighted ball into the box to crate the first goal. Had he done that at the Emirates people would still been talking about it. He was continually picking the ball up from deep and starting off the play continuing his runs into the box even if he did not receive the ball back. Two minutes later he rounded three players only to play the ball back with an intelligent pass to start another move, he was even winning headers in the center of midfield. Their was an electric pace to the game and only once did we see the Arshavin of old, sat on the ground with his hands out, however, in fairness he had just tackled a player on the half way line rounded three players showing immense strength before being fouled in the box. To top off this performance came the aforementioned goal, a scissor kick executed with the finesse of a master crafts man, and it is also worth pointing out that this was not a one off performance. On the second of May another outstanding performance saw him score his second goal; a superb side foot shot from 20 yards against Rubin Kazan, Zenit were on their way to the title.
Even though Zenit lost on Sunday they were crowned Champions, Arshavin was talking to Russian Paper ‘Sports Express’ and said that “I haven’t yet thought about (my future). Everything will be decided after the European Championship. Of course, the result and quality of play there could affect my destiny. Without a doubt I can say that the decision to return to Zenit was correct. First of all, I am now playing regularly. Secondly, it’s hometown. Third, Zenit has ensured me of everything so that my thoughts are focused only on football.”
No matter what people think about Arshavin, it is obvious that he is a clever if not complex character and form is more of a mental state than physical for him. He is playing as well as he ever has at the moment, but do Arsenal and Arsene Wenger want him back? In his current mind set it would seem that the only answer is yes, his cutting edge and finesse exuberate Arsenal characteristics right now, however, should he come back and have a bad start, how long will it be before we see the little Russian sat on the edge of the box with his hands in the air?
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