Just Arsenal News

The Arsenal and Russia midfielder Andrei Arshavin has admitted that he is depressed after Russia failed to beat Slovenia in the World Cup Play-offs, and says that he is finding it hard to concentrate on the domestic competitions.

In an interview with the Russian Sport Express newspaper Arshavin said: “People close to me tell me that I need to forget what happened as soon as possible and turn my attention to club business, to the Champions League,”

“But that’s easier said than done.”

“When Arsene Wegner asked me how I was, I admitted that I simply don’t want to play football,” Arshavin said. Read the full article here

Russia and Germany go head-to-head to decide which team gets automatic qualification to the World Cup Finals, and who will have to go through the play-offs. Germany are currently one point ahead, so even a draw will give them the advantage.

This will be the first game on the artificial pitch at the Luzhniki arena that was last used for an international match when Russia beat England in the Euro2008 Qualifiers.

Russia coach Guus Hiddink is hoping that they can do the same to Germany this time around, but they will have to overcome the inferiority complex that comes with NEVER having beaten Germany (or West Germany) in a competitive match. Read the full article here

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was in no way pleased that Guus Hiddink allowed Andrey Arshavin to play the full 90 minutes for Russia against Wales on Saturday, considering that he was not fully recovered from a groin injury.

Wenger said: “We have had one piece of bad news,”

“Arshavin has come back injured from the Russian game last night.

“We are upset because he should not have played. He was not in a condition where he could afford to play 90 minutes. We took him off against Manchester United because he was injured already at half-time. He will be out for Saturday, Wednesday and certainly next Saturday.” Read the full article here

The Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin has two managers, Guus Hiddinck for the Russia national team, and of ciourse Arsene Wenger.

He feels that it was Hiddinck’s influence that made him the player he is now, but now he is at Arsenal he bows to the superior knowledge of Wenger.

“I don’t know of a single player who has a bad word to say about him,” Arshavin said of Hiddinck.

“He really knows how to create an environment where every player wants to train hard, work hard and give their best. Read the full article here

Aaron Ramsey will face his Arsenal team-mate Andrey Arshavin on Wednesday if both players have recovered from the knocks they received in the game against Man Utd.

Wales face Russia at the Millennium Stadium on Wednesday, and will be trying to derail their attempt to overtake Germany at the head of the group. If Russia win it will set up a title decider in Moscow in October.

Ramsey says that Arshavin was laughing at him when he came off injured against Man Utd, but then Arshavin followed him off the pitch! Read the full article here

It seems that the Daily Mail is under the impression that Andrey Arshavin’s desire to play for his country next week is going to upset his boss at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Where on earth do that get that idea from?

I suppose it is well-known that Wenger doesn’t like international teams playing the Arsenal players, especially when they are prone to injury, or carrying a knock, so i suppose it is a reasonable assumption.

Anyway, here is what the article from the Mail said: Andrey Arshavin faces upsetting Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger after the forward revealed his desire to play for Russia despite suffering with a groin injury. Read the full article here

The Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin talked about the differences between the Russian League and the Premiership in an interview in the Times this Sunday, and he doesn’t paint a pretty picture of playing in Russia!

“I wanted to see what real football looks like,” he said. “I wanted to see what the game is like when you play for a world-class team and play only on world-class surfaces and meet only star players every week — as opposed to having to travel to play at half-demolished stadiums, sometimes with artificial pitches, where the result of your game can depend on what the referee is feeling like that particular day. Read the full article here

The Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin has been picked by Russian coach Guus Hiddinck to face Diego Maradona’s Argentina in a friendly in Moscow on August 12th, just three days before Arsenal’s opening league game against Everton at Goodison Park.

This is a move that is likely to anger Arsene Wenger, as Arsenal also have their Champions League Qualifier just a few days after the Everton game.

Hiddinck is unlikely to excuse Arshavin, and is expected to name him as captain following his recent impressive performances for his country.

Chelsea will also have new signing Yuri Zhirkov called up, and Tottenham will miss Roman Pavlyuchenko. Read the full article here