Morning:
10°c
I could retire after Arsenal, says Arshavin
24 Mar 2009Andrey Arshavin insists he has settled in so well at Arsenal he may never play for another club.
The Russian playmaker has impressed since his £15million move from Zenit St Petersburg in January and believes his threeand-a-half year deal could be enough to see out his playing days at the age of just 31.
He said: "The players have been friendly, I feel comfortable with the team. It is too early to make any conclusions, since little time has past, but my contract is long enough. It will probably last until the end of my career."
Robin Van Persie has challenged the club to match his appetite for silverware before his contract runs out in 2011.
He said: "I'm not happy just playing - I want to win things and I think that is a good thing."
"It is not my aim just to qualify for the Champions League. I want to win the Champions League and I believe we can.
"It is not just that I want to play in the FA Cup. I want to win it, and that is what I have always said.
"I am not a guy who gives up easily. I have a contract until 2011 and I will respect that. About my future, I can't say much more."
Reader views (12)
"His comment at the weekend to suggest they are back in the title race was absolutely pathetic and smacks of the PR hype machine in full flow."
Arsene Wenger himself claimed that this idea was crazy. He believes that as long as Arsenal rely and inspire themselves based on the mathematical possibility at least the gap between the league toppers and Arsenal would be reduced thereby making the worries of CL qualification insignificant.
- Rahul, Hyderabad, India, 25/03/2009 07:33
Report abuse
Re: James Hennessy, Tom from Uxbridge and Mark, Essex. The only laughing stock around here are all the tragic fans of other clubs (most likely Spurs fans) who make derisory comments on here about a subject that doesn't concern them.
Why not try focusing on your own clubs' problems rather than making pointless comments about our club? Some of these comments absolutely reek of petty jealousy.
No matter what problems Arsenal have or just how supposedly deluded Wenger is, we're still much better off than 90% of the Premiership and we certainly remain streets ahead of a certain club from just down the road. I'll look forward to their annual meltdown again next season, but in the meantime I'll just enjoy the remainder of our season where we're still in the running for two pieces of silverware and closing in on qualification for another year in the Champions League. Yep, real tough times at Arsenal right now. LOL.
- Steven, London, 24/03/2009 18:39
Report abuse
Its always "next year" at Arsenal thesedays. The manager is totally deluded and a total hypocrite (Tom from Uxbridge is totally correct re: Wenger's assessment of Arshavin). His comment at the weekend to suggest they are back in the title race was absolutely pathetic and smacks of the PR hype machine in full flow. Another season with no silverware and the excuse of "kids" being trotted out yet again.
- Mark, Essex, 24/03/2009 17:13
Report abuse
Here we go again,some of the names here who were calling for Wenger's Head just a couple of months ago are now claiming he is the bees knees again after a couple of wins.
Please Arsenal fans, stop doing this, you are making yourselves the laughingstocks of the premiership.
- James Hennessy, london england, 24/03/2009 16:01
Report abuse
Diaby's goal against Newcastle makes him look like a reincarnation of Patrick Vieira. A combination of Diaby, Arshavin and Fabrigas is mouth watering for next season. Let's just pick the fourth spot for starters.
- Pius Mordi, Lagos, Nigeria, 24/03/2009 15:10
Report abuse
My two young boys keep playing back the video of Andrey Arshavin receiving a forearm smash in the face from Stephen Taylor.Why dont they punish him Daddy my children ask. I really dont know what to tell them, maybe the standard can find out!lets face it this would probably have been penalized on a rugby pitch let alone a football field.
- Bill, colchester england, 24/03/2009 14:46
Report abuse
tom from uxbridge - have you any idea how silly you come across when you write stuff like that? show some respect for your betters you naughty boy.
- Ppp, london, england, 24/03/2009 14:43
Report abuse
the same Arshavin who Whinger Wenger said last summer was a lightweight,overpriced and would not cut it at the prem level,one goal so far against a poor Blackburn who played the way Arsenal wanted them too,it will probably be another trophyless year for the Gonners..the same fickle lot who were shouting the odds at Wenger a couple of months ago,as they have beaten Newcastle,Blackburn and Hull all is great now..
- Tom, uxbridge, 24/03/2009 14:06
Report abuse
"It will probably last until the end of my career" is agent speak for 'get me outta here' !!
- Simon Bucknell, enfield, 24/03/2009 13:32
Report abuse
What a superb player with such a tremendous character. My dream is to see a midfield quartet of Arshavin, Nasri, Fabregas & Rosicky! With a reserve quartet of Walcott, Abu Diaby, Song & Eboue & not far behind Denilson, Wilshere, Ramsey & either Emmanuel-Thomas or Frimpong. I am enjoying the last few weeks of this season & eagerly awaiting next season, hopefully at full strength, plus a couple of top class defensive additions.
- Rob Gooner, North London, 24/03/2009 12:29
Report abuse
As arsenal fan lm very happy to hear from van persie and asharvin that they have enough confidence and faith to the club.its my hope that al players will follow them. Back to me i can see all players are play in one spirit that is what i can proud about.its my hope that we gonna win many trough as possible.
- Martin Maturo, arusha-tanzania, 24/03/2009 10:39
Report abuse
Arshavin is a great buy for Arsenal and proves that Wenger has a good eye for not just youth players.Ashavin is the complete finished article,in the game against Newcastle he rounded the defence and let rip a 35 yard shot that clipped the bar,had that shot been two inches lower we would have been talking possible goal of the season.He reminds me of Marc Overmars he attacks defenders from all sorts of angles,and has settled very quickly into what is fast becoming a strong team unit,with players of this class and intelligence in the team it wont be long till Arsenal are collecting trophies again.
- Jim Ex Pat, London N.1, thailand, 24/03/2009 09:47
Report abuse
