Arshavin – I’ve lost confidence, and maybe I’m getting old?
The little Russian genius has seemed very out-of-sorts this season, and has been roundly criticed by the Arsenal fans. Arsene Wenger has relegated him to his second string side, and despite the occasional spark of his old form, he has looked listless and uninterested.
Arshavin himself has tried to explain the problem, but he is not too sure about the reasons for his lack of pace and confidence.
He said: “Now when I get the ball, I begin to think, ‘Should I try and trick an opponent? Or if I do, will I lose the ball? And what if I make a pass? Won’t they think that I am trying to get rid of the ball?’
“I am afraid of taking the initiative. When such thoughts appear, your final decision, as a rule, turns out to be wrong. And you waste a lot of opportunities.
“That was happening to me in recent matches.”
“Unfortunately, there is no button in a human body to switch off unnecessary thoughts. I need to train and play. After a few good performances, the courage and automatic decision-making are going to return.”
“I do not have enough acceleration. From the very start of this season I felt I’m fast enough only in separate episodes.
“The reason? I don’t know. Maybe I’m just getting old.
“Naturally, I’d like to be on the pitch in every game – but currently the boys who play in my position, Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott, look very good. They’re really in good shape and that’s why they’re playing.
“To get back my place in the starting XI, I need to regain my best form. All I can do is work in training. There are no other recipes for building up your form.”
“When you are absolutely all right, you do not even think what to do in one episode or another – it happens automatically.
“I’m not worried too much that I am now becoming part of the second-choice group of players.
“Since the start of the season I do not drink even Coke, let alone alcoholic drinks. The coaches make me do special exercises aimed at getting my starting speed faster.
“It is just a period I need to come through. I have nothing to reproach myself about. I do not do anything which would distract me from football and interfere with it.”
Well that is certainly a full and frank analysis of his current problems. Rather than comment on it myself I will leave it to you to give your thoughts on his explanation……
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well on thing is for sure our little Russian is honest!
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I really believe that the Arshavin that scored 4 goals against liverpool giving us a 4-4 draw will come back. He is a star. I think that he needs some more time and he’ll back to his scoring ways.
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i feel really sorry for him coming from the player himself … lets just hope our little russian comes back to his real self
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emmm eden hazard?
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We are behind you 100%.Just keep on working hard.Identifying your problem is the first step which is good.
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I believe he started to get his form back,Lets be patient and I hope everything goes normal again, In Arsene we Trust.
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Get rid of the joker and his 75000 pound a week pay packet already ,doesn,t contribute zilch to the team,time to move on Arshavin ?
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I just love this little Russian for his talent and honesty and had the honor of meeting him in Dubai just before he signed for us. Come on Arsenal.
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Yeah arshavin is out of form but will be back,remember he was our emergency striker last season
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@ samuel. R u 4 real arshavin is class and he don’t contritube nothin 2 the team u should check his stats then come bac, his just not scoring goals that is it
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at least hes honest. but like wenger said the stats. the semi final the other day he has 2 assists from the 3 goals and he’s off form , just let him regain his form to and we will be alright.
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spot on tony. arsenal often critisize for not enough end product although off colour arshavin is contributing to results
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He should see a sports psychologist right away. He’s got the yips. I am surprised that this hasn’t happened, it’s so obvious. Especiallly as he has been a truly world class player with super talent. The tell is that even when he has a (now typical) totally crap game where everything goes wrong – he still gets an assist or 2 or an important goal.
But then again maybe he just needs to spend less time with Russian oligarchs sipping vintage champagne and guloing down blinies and caviar!!!!
But as frustrating as this all is he is a chraming and hugely gifted person who is part of our family, so he deserves patience and support, groands notwithstanding
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He is sure off form, however 14 assists this make me thinks that if get back on form, he could be a master piece of arsenal victories
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He is not scoring but CONTRIBUTING ! Ass..
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how can we be so judgemental!!!! dis guy evn had 2 assists in our last match………
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A move to Juventus might be good for both parties.
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Leave the guy to do what he does best. A dip in form does not mean he’ll neva come back. Does it?
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the ones who are saying he should leave dont understand the game well enough. He is absolutely brilliant and even when he is having an off season, his contributions have been telling enough. He has set such high standards that the moment there is a blip everyone goes on blaming him. He is so wonderful that he accepts his mistakes and also says he is working earnestly to rectify it whereas a lot more footballers will complain. Andre, please dont leave us, we need and for those who are saying Eden Hazard or whoever, he is still way of to reach Arshavin’s standards.
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Each of those cricising AA23 should know that once in a while a player is out of form and sure it comes back.Fans around the Emirates are making it even difficult to come back to his form because of the pressure they are putting on him.The same has happened to almost every good player.Wayne Rooney went for upto 9 months without a single goal,Drogba had his time too,but their fans were supporting them til they were back to their best.Let us understand the guy and hope that he does not take longer to be back to his best.
GUNNERS 4EVER.
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I’m sure he will be back to his best soon. Remember that in the last game against Ipswich he looked horribly out of sorts but still took the corner that led to the second goal AND laid off a beautiful pass for Fabregas to score the third (which was needed to put the tie beyond doubt). He is worth having in the squad/on the bench even when he is off form.
On the subject of another player that a lot of people seem to enjoy slagging off – Bendtner; Are any of the habitual whingers going to praise him for his brilliant goal AND the pinpoint cross that Van Persie should have scored from in the first half?
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I have the belief that Arshavin will hit top form before the end of the season. He is a world class player. Let us recall the flops of eboue last season. Eboue regained his confidence and that of the supporters too. Please arsenal fans,lets be patient and give the dimunitive assasin some game time. He who laughs last,laughs best.
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Love the player n he’ll be back to form when he drinks coke again, have a can before the game n that will give him the buzz he needs back lol
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good attitude
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Arshavin’s stats 2010:
(Apps = Appearances for those that might not know)
…………. League ………….
Apps Goals Assists:
22 4 9
…………… Cup …………….
Apps Goals Assists:
5 1 3
………….. Europe ………….
Apps Goals Assists:
4 2 2
…………… Other …………..
Apps Goals Assists:
? ? ?
…………… Total …………..
Apps Goals Assists:
31 8 14
Considering Arshavin isn’t really performing well his still about floating in the air with some good assists, of course he isn’t playing to his full ability cos his having a small dip in form but what other player doesn’t have that, all the great players have and are still having it; Torres, Drogba, Rooney, Chamakh, Fabregas and that’s just among the top clubs in the League right now. Eventually towards the end of the season they’ll prove everyone wrong, you guys just wait an see…
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He is a really good lad – honest and with integrity.
It is blatantly obvious that he has lost his confidence and his ability to make the right decision when he gets the ball. You can see it when he’s outside the box on the left flank – a confident Arshavin would drop his right shoulder and whizz past the defender either to score or to square it – or he would cut inside and whack it with his right foot into the goal. At the moment he freezes when he gets the ball – overwhelmed by fear of making a mistake and getting the crowd on his back. Only one way to cure that and that is to start doing good things and climb back up the confidence ladder. We are right behind you Arshavin! You are a star and your sparkle will return.
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Please someone should convey this to Arshavin. I am a psychic and a diehard fine of his. I will offer him free service -absolutely free service to get out of his problem. Arsenal needs him and we the fans need him too. The problem is not in his body. It is in his head but not those thoughts he mentioned but something else that are bringing the thoughts, which his subconscious is afraid to accept and comment. He should forward his mail to me for my FREE assistance. HIS TOO YOUNG TO FADE – ABSOLUTELY
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Little rusian don’t give ur hand do ur best as much as u can .don’t saying i am old see gigges performance please score one goals and will come z other.. wasse from ethiopia
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Arshavin is an incredibly talented player taht’s obvious, but recently his performances on matches have been truly awful.
I don’t know the reasons really, but he seems to be screwing up too often. He’s a great player, but he’s nowhere near what he was when he started playing at arsenal.
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i luv arshavin nd wil continue to.he’l b more dangerous than robin and samir.its only a litle time.my arshavin wil b back.ride on broda.gunaz 4 lyf.
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Fans would forgive walcott being brainless dealing with his final ball, but not Arshavin. Reason? Because Arshavin is not English. Anyway form is temporary, class is permanent. Walcott has form, Arshavin has class, Nasir has both.
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iam not convinced by arshavin’s words yes he has admitted he is not playing well and short on form. but what does this all mean… NOTHING, and ill say it again for emphasis NOTHING. For the last 4 month all i have been hearing is how hard he has been working in training but i am yet to see the benefits, the rewards, the classy play and more importantly the GOALS yes the all important goals what every great victory is built on have not been forth coming. Now im sure that many disillusioned fans and even Mr Wenger will be quick to turn to his stats to justify his spot and his fat salary at The Arsenal. who am i to argue with the stats but im not convinced, much more is expected from a player of arshavin’s caliber.Take his performances on the field for example there lackadaisical to say the least he just doesn’t look interested. And i think its either shape up or ship out for arshavin there are many talented youngsters waiting for their chance to impress and make a name for themselves.
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Every player goes through this phase…. I just wanna say that the small magician will surely shake his bad form off….he will surely hit good form…in arsne and adrey we trust!!!!!!!!
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I believe so much in him (Arshavin) with all the skill deposited in him Arsenal needs him, he should be gievn all the support he needed from the Fans & the Club.
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he’s good, I don’t think he should go. I do wish when he falls over he’d get up instead lying there looking at the sky.
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haha…it’s funny when Arshavin say’s he’s getting old…but it’s doesn’t matter how old are you, because you’re still a great footballer…
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