How Arsene Wenger must dread international get-togethers. Two of his most important players have given him fresh headaches ahead of Saturday's massive clash with Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League.

First, there is Russian playmaker Andrey Arshavin. He desperately wants to play against Wales in Cardiff tonight despite Wenger's desire that he rest the groin injury he picked up in the defeat at Manchester United 11 days ago.

Then, there is Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas and his flirtations with Barcelona and Real Madrid every time he steps away from the Arsenal manager's protective embrace.

Russia are in second place in Group Four, one point behind Germany, and must win in Cardiff to maintain their challenge, with the Germans at home against Azerbaijan tonight.

That has left Russia coach Guus Hiddink desperate for Arshavin to play in the World Cup qualifier with Wales.

Arshavin was expected to miss out having scored, and then limped off, at the end of Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford. But ex-Chelsea boss Hiddink is risking a potential conflict with Wenger by insisting the 28-year-old could play this evening, despite the on-going doubts over his fitness.

Hiddink said: “At this moment there is no big problem with him. He has participated in training and was okay. We will see what his reaction is and make a decision.

“He did everything he had to do in training and we will take the decision shortly before the game.
“There must not be a lot of worry. He will take the responsible decision and if he cannot play then he won't play.

“He would like to play. He felt last Saturday that it was impossible to play — but he has improved a lot.

“When you are not almost fully recovered you get a reaction but he hasn't had one so far. We will see how he will do but I won't take stupid risks.”

Arshavin's availability would certainly risk angering Wenger, who takes his Arsenal side to the unbeaten big-spenders of Eastlands on Saturday.

And the Frenchman's mood wouldn't have been helped by Hiddink's claim that Chelsea's £18million new-boy Yuri Zhirkov, who has yet to make his Blues bow, will be given more time to rest following a long-term knee injury.

Hiddink added: “He has been out for a while and may not be fit in time. You can't rush players back from a long-term injury.”

Fabregas, meanwhile, has taken the opportunity of being away with Spain, who can qualify for next summer's tournament tonight if they makes it eight Group Five wins out of eight against Estonia in Merida, to stress again that he doesn't know where he will be playing next season.

The midfielder has denied suggestions in Spain that he already has an agreement to join Barcelona if presidential hopeful Sandro Rosell wins elections next summer.

But the 22-year-old confirmed there had been interest in the past from Real Madrid and further attempts to prise him from the Emirates seem inevitable.

“I haven't spoken to anyone,” Fabregas told Radio Marca. “Whatever happens, happens, but at the moment there is nothing.

“I don't know if I'll leave the Premier League next year. I'm happy there and it is an important year for the club.

“Two or three years ago there was some interest (from Real Madrid), but there has never been anything serious with another team since I joined
Arsenal.”

Fabregas said at the end of last season that the current campaign was vital for his future in England and stressed that Arsenal needed to win some silverware.

Reports last month which suggested Barcelona had already struck an agreement to sign Fabregas next year were strongly denied by the player and Wenger.