ความคิดเห็นที่ 37
Arshavin could be Arsenal's missing link
Andrei Arshavin took his time to arrive at the Euro 2008 party, but when he did grace us with his presence it was as a VIP guest in an extravagant blur of glitz, glamour and sparkle worthy of P Diddy strolling up fashionably late to an exclusive Cannes shindig.
At a stroke the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker transformed Russia into Holland circa 1974. Impressing with his movement, passing, vision and just about everything else, he shone for Guus Hiddink’s side as they laid down a real marker of intent and one that the coach’s native country will do well to heed ahead of the quarter final meeting between the two sides.
If Arshavin can inspire this kind of transformation in his national team, then can he not, as some newspapers have been suggesting on Thursday, be the missing link for an Arsenal side starved of success after three consecutive seasons without a trophy?
The Gunners were predictably linked with the 27-year-old after his rampant display brought to mind the flair of the North Londoners, but Arshavin’s agent also revealed way back in January that Arsene Wenger had been taking an interest in his client.
The imminent arrival of Samir Nasri has been painted as a direct response to Alexander Hleb’s long goodbye and it may be so, but Arshavin is the man who could have a transformative impact on Arsenal’s midfield, and fortunes as a whole.
For too long The Gunners have struggled to replace the goals of Robert Pires and, when at his pomp, Freddie Ljungberg. In the title winning seasons of 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 they contributed 30 and 29 goals in all competitions respectively.
Contrast that with last season when regular wingers Hleb and Emmanuel Eboue scored a distinctly unimpressive four and zero and it is clear where Arsenal’s problems lie. Okay, Tomas Rosicky had seven before his injury at the turn of the year but hands up who thinks he will stay fit for the whole of next season?
Arshavin’s intelligent play across the width of the pitch is undoubtedly reminiscent of Hleb. They are also both children of the Soviet Union but with a cultural divide: Hleb’s mother was a bricklayer and Arshavin possesses a fashion degree.
The most pertinent point, though, is that Arshavin is Hleb plus a final product.
It may be a shock to some outside North London that Arsenal’s existing roaming forward has scored only 10 goals in 124 games for The Gunners – a strike rate that even Emile Heskey would be ashamed of.
Arshavin in contrast has 47 in 217 league games for Zenit and also provides a deadly killer ball. Just ask Rangers after his two assists in the final of the Uefa Cup.
If Arsenal are to mount a title challenge they need to relieve the goalscoring burden on Emmanuel Adebayor, if he does not join Milan, and Robin van Persie. Perhaps Arshavin can be that man?
The strange-looking playmaker from Zenit really caught my eye with a blistering Uefa Cup performance in a 4-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in April and his display on Wednesday night was merely confirmation that he is ready for greatness.
If Wednesday’s reports of a prospective £10 million move to North London are to be believed, then Wenger must roll out the red carpet for this footballing VIP who is set to go stellar.
http://sport.setanta.com/en/Blogs/A-to-Z-of-Bloggers/Tom-Adams/02/06/Arshavin-could-be-Arsenals-missing-link/?facets/sport-space/great-britain-locale/
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yut  
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