Just Arsenal News

The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that he didn’t play Andrei Arshavin from the start of the losing game against Sunderland because of his depressed state.

Arshavin’s country, Russia, had been beaten 1-0 by Slovenia to consign them to the also-rans in next summers tournament, and Arshavin admitted that he had told Wenger “I don’t want to play football.”

But Wenger says the diminutive star will get over it.

“He is very down,” explained Wenger. “He came back from Slovenia very down and that’s the main reason I did not play him from the start against Sunderland.

“You want players to be 100 per cent focused, play a game like it’s life or death, and it is impossible not to be down if you don’t win.

“If you care, you are down. Arshavin is Russia captain and he is 28. At the next World Cup he will be 33.”

However, the Arsenal manager believes the midfielder’s character will see him bounce back in style.

“He is a winner and strong mentally and when his back is to the wall he responds.”

“He is a tough boy. He is mentally okay, but he is down and is still disappointed for his country.”

Let us all hope he is in a good frame of mind for tomorrow’s crucial game against Chelsea!