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Arsenal shrug off row over Arshavin transfer
James Olley04.02.09
Arsenal insisted today that they had done nothing underhanded in their transfer of Andrei Arshavin despite the deal not being completed until 4.52pm yesterday - nearly 24 hours after the initial deadline set by FIFA.
Aston Villa have confirmed that they will be watching closely to see what the Premier League and Football Association have to say on the affair. They are fighting the Gunners for fourth place and Champions League qualification and boss Martin O'Neill is expected to make his feelings known on the Russian's arrival after tonight's FA Cup replay with Doncaster.
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said that "everything was done before the deadline" and added: "This is the nature of deadlines in general, that people will wait until the last minute before they are prepared to make concessions [on the deal]. Sometimes you just have to let the clock run down."
As Standard Sport revealed yesterday, certain documents from Arshavin's club Zenit St Petersburg reached the football authorities via Arsenal after the 5pm deadline.
It is thought the Premier League agreed to give the deal the go-ahead "as long as the FA were happy" after lawyers were consulted over the legality of approving the deal.
The Premier League confirmed in a statement the signing of Arshavin had been "substantively completed prior to the close of the January transfer window".
But that is unlikely to satisfy Arsenal's rivals, who will want to know why it took so long to complete the deal and view its late completion with some suspicion. There have been other similar cases when the boundaries have been pushed back, the 2006 deal that saw Chelsea's Ashely Cole and Arsenal's William Gallas swap clubs for example, but never as far as this transfer.
Arshavin, who will cost an initial £12million with £3m in add ons and has signed a four-and-a-half year contract, was flying home today to secure his work permit.
The 27-year-old is desperate to play in Sunday's north London derby with Spurs but accepts that he isn't match-fit, having not played a competitive match since the end of the Russian domestic season last November.
“I might need just one week but I will try to play as soon as possible,” said Arsenal's new No23. “I must be ready by Friday or Saturday, but I am not fit now. It will be decided by Arsene if I can play or not.”
Arsene Wenger hopes Arshavin can prove to be the “influential force” which kick-starts Arsenal's season after breaking the Gunners transfer record to get his man.
“Andrei Arshavin is a player I have admired for a long time,” said the Arsenal manager.
“He is a versatile player with great experience, who will add real quality to our squad.”
Reader views (10)
Yes Tom, been reading the papers and watching Sky Sports News - before, during and after the transfer window, (which is evidently more than some people have been doing).
The first four points I made are a statement of fact.
The fifth point is what Arsenal, Zenit, the Premier League and the FA, (and all their associated lawyers) have told everyone.
So tell me, seeing as you seem to disagree, which points exactly are you refuting?
- John, London
and how do you know all this then john,been reading the papers have you or were you there????
- Tom, uxbridge
A few points:
- The deadline was extended beyond 5pm Monday by the FA.
- This extension applied to ALL clubs.
- The extension was instigated by the FA, not Arsenal.
- Notice of the extension was given to all clubs (and public) in ADVANCE of the previous 5pm deadline.
- Disregarding all the above, the substance of the deal was SUBMITTED to the FA by the original deadline, (including Arshavin's signature Richard).
That the FA didn't ratify a submitted deal until almost 24 hrs later, (due to their own under-staffing problems) is entirely irrelevant. If you start an exam at 2pm and are told you have until 5pm to finish it, it is 5pm to HAND IT IN, not to have handed it in AND have it marked...
- John, London
I think that this transfer being allowed after the deadline is an injustice to all the other clubs that could not complete any signings by 5pm dealine day (2nd Feb) Arshavin was in London 2 days before the "deadline" and could not sign until over 1 day later. Arsenal say that the FA were understaffed due to the bad weather that day and were given added time to do the deal. That to me is a complete break of rules and proves that the January transfer window is a sham. Other clubs managed to get their signings signed sealed and delivered ON TIME. This should apply to Arsenal too and as they did not then should be penalised by either a points deduction or simply not play the player until next season.
- Richard, London
Of course, if this was West Ham there'd be feet stomped, toys out of prams, compensation claims, fines, threats of points taken, et cetera, et cetera...
- Stu, Beckton
What is scandalous Jamie is your inability to use the correct version of "their" in your sentence. And there you are wanting us all to take you seriously when you can't even spell properly - on a computer to boot.....
- Rob, London
Oh dear sounds like bitter comments from Jamie and Steven.
You dont know the full cirumstances so zip it.
- Sue, London UK
a sound of a dodgy deal here,with many a number too blame.As for saying it is a dream,i think it was a dream for him too play anywhere that would take on his wage and Zenits demand,last summer it was his dream to only play for Barca,they clearly don`t need him...this is also another topic for the mad Rafa to have a pop at..
- tom, uxbridge
Clearly a case of arsenal flexing there muscles to prove they can make a deal OUTSIDE the transfer window!
Scandalous i think or is 32 days not long enough to sign 1 player?
- jamie, essex
Arshavin must do a lot of dreaming given the numerous clubs that he supposedly wanted to play for.
Let's face it Goons, there's no doubt he'll play his socks off for you but his "dream" was to get away from Zenit for anyone who would take him and with whom Zenit was prepared to negotiate; not to play for the Arsenal.
- Steven Dale, London, England
