Could Arshavin be the missing piece? 23 March, 2009
Posted by sandymacg in Arsenal News.trackback
Andrey Arshavin has been a sensation since he joined, no one doubted the boy had talent but few would have expected him to hit the ground running the way he has, and he is not yet 100% match fit!
Arshavin seems to offer Arsenal a new dimension to their play. We already have creative players in the team but he is the only one who seems to be able to create chances from absolutely nothing and look threatening ever touch he gets.
Our defence is starting to look reasonably solid with Gallas and Toure working well together of late and our midfield looks more piercing with the return of Theo. Our striking options are increasing with Eduardo back playing and Adebayor due back in a week or two and it just makes me wonder could Arshavin be the man to link all this together and finally bring silverware to the Emirates?
If Arshavin continues to produce the displays he has so far then there is no doubt we are going to create more chances and break down teams easier than we have in the past, but the real test will be when we come up against one of the big teams to see if he can handle the attention he will get from the likes of Vidic and Terry but I don’t think the Russian international will care who he is playing against and will continue to torment.
The only regret I have about Arshavin is that we didn’t sign him sooner. He would have been a great help earlier in the season and it would have been great to see him play in this seasons Champions League for us.
This is the first piece from me, Sandy. I might drop in a piece or two from time to time. Let me know what you think.
Thanks for reading,
Sandy
ARSHA ….. ARSHA
COM ON YOU GOONERS
HE IS A BIG TIME TALENTED PLAYER. THE BEST THERE IS.
PERIOD.
SAY LOUD WHEN HE SCORE GOALS
ARSHA GOOOL ARSHA GOOOL
ARSENAL FAN SAY ARSHA …… ARSHA GOOOOOOOOOL
ARABS SAY ARSHA …… ARSHA GOOOOOOOOOL
THE WORLD SAY ARSHA …… ARSHA GOOOOOOOOOL
Solid piece, nothing spectacular though.
Arshavin is showing great things right now and I believe we can reach new heights with him. I just want to watch him play alongside Cesc, Eduardo and Rosicky.
Not a bad start Sandy.
Arshavin’s price in the summer was prohibitive and there was the competition, which would have driven the price up further. Arsene was also expecting Rosicky back in September. Fortunately for us he was still available in January and we were able to negotiate a better deal. Had we bought him in the summer I also doubt that he would have made the same impact so quickly due to the different timing of the Russsian league and his appearance at the Euro’s. Now he has joined us just prior to the start of the Russian season and although he had not had a full pre-season, he is getting into his stride just at the time when we could benefit from fresh legs.
Arshavin has given us a good option on the left. I always felt Nasri was never quite effective on the wide left. Infact Nasri has been more threatening from the right of midfield. Arshavin is always trying to find a forward option which is refreshing after seeing Denilson and Song pass it sideways for a period of time!
Arshavin, Fabregas, Rosicky, Eduardo, Nasri, Vela , van Persie and Walcott quite a line up ,if they ever play together I think it might be a day to remember.
Nice start sandy, my first time posting a comment here =)
Arshavin gives us something this team has been missing since the days of Bobby Bergy and Freddy. He has that spark which can change games, he truly is a spectacular player. We have missed this since 2005, where it was close to curtains on there careers. Now we are in the FA Cup semi’s, we have a real chance of winning it.
Everyone must be kicking themselves for not signing him now. Guardiola at Barca and Roman at CSKA Fulham included….
I think even if he does get marked in big games although he seams to have the pedigree to deal with it, others will be able to step up. The best defence cant control the likes of RVP, Arshavin, Cesc and Theo. Or Nasri, then there is the strikers. He may even be a great decoy in the big games coming up. If identified as the main trouble.
In addition, if he [plays wide the defenders wont get near him without creating space. He is the big player that we needed, he has the fear factor that big players bring. I believe in the next year or two Cesc and RVP will also add this but for now its Arshavin.
Great side put together by a great manager. Long live King Arsene, COME ON THE GUNNERS.
Andrei Arshavin, Arsenal’s Russian Goal Machine…
La la la la la… da da da daaaaaaa (Rasputin, Boney-M)
Well put the guy is class. Another world-beating signing by the professor. Wasn’t available during the summer due to his price and he probably would have been a bit burnt out (see Pavlyochenko). Arsene got him when we truly needed him and at the price HE wanted to pay. Well done Wenger. The guy is amazing and I believe Arsene will pull off a masterclass this season. The words were spoken first right here, right now. (03/23/09) Arsenal for FA and CL.
He is one of the final pieces of Arsene’s jigsaw. Despite our defence looking more solid of late against Newcastle with long balls punted upfield into the defence we looked decidedly uncomfortable at times and I think that he will need to recruit a big strong CB and an experienced DM during the summer. Also dump Ade on anyone that wants him for 20 mil and buy Huntelaar, we will then be complete and take the PL by storm next season.
Yeah, good effort Sandy. The boy’s pure gold and has not put a foot wrong. Big things to come. Easy now..
No doubt Arshavin is an important and much needed cog in the Arsenal machine, but he can’t do it alone. He can whip it in on set pieces, juke on the dribble, make sublime passes and strike from virtually any angle. He just about does it all from a creative/skill viewpoint. He has really added to the chemistry and creativity of the team and they all seem to be evolving well together. So I think it will be interesting to see what happens to the developing on-field chemistry when Cesc is back. I believe Cesc, Nasri, Walcott and Arshavin can create the most dynamic mid-field in football, if egos don’t get in the way, and I don’t think they will. ManU seems to keep egos in check and they’ve got some of the biggest heads in European football crowding up their locker room, so why couldn’t the gunners.
Here’s to the Gunners and a wonderful ending to the season!
i got this email after the newcastle game from a Manc buddy of mine:
I’m going to make a prediction, that Arshavin is going to be Player of the Season next season, injuries notwithstanding, and I think he’ll prove to be the best Arsenal player since Henry
amen to that….
Arshavin has been really good for the team purely because he has the balls to shoot. He has taken on that responcibiliy and it gives the other players the confidence to have a go to. In my opinion, before he came everyone was passing it around waiting to someone else to step up. Im just gutted that the fantasy team lists him as a striker and not midfield! boo
I’ve got a chant for AA:
Ar-sha-vin, Ar-sha-vin, Arsha-vin, Arshavin
Ar-sha-vin, Ar-sha-vin, Arsha-vin, Arshavin
Ar-sha-vin, Ar-sha-vin, Arsha-vin, Arshavin
and so on…
to the tune of popular Russian ‘Kalinka’ check out the tune here:
Our lad would feel right at home
I can not wait to see him playing alongside Fabulous4 and Nasri in the midfield. I am sure the Mancus of this world are already scared.
Let’s hope he doesn’t get injuried till the end of the season and also hope he doesn’t suffer from the second season sydrome.
truthfuly nevr thought that the rasian would be at arsenal,teams like barca,madrid,man city in da race was sure he would not join arsenal,i belive when he joined i jumped up in air full of joy,couse used to follow up hes ply this guy is jus a class apart,the shooting capacity,vision he has ohhhhhhhh is great,many soccer anylist did thik wenger made a wrong decision to buy arshavin,with song stepping up his class an injured players returning teams are going to have it rough very ask rovers an toons ,
Arshavin seems to play without any inhibitions at all! Like he has an amazing level of focus and clear-headedness.
With the buzz that surrounds him I’m reminded of Ljunberg at his peak, but more mature and level-headed and good-tempered.
I feel as if next season is the one in which we really need to set ourselves up and go for it. Like Rob C above, I want us to fix what needs fixing, make the big investments and have a real go.
ha
Totally agree, a superb player that instantly makes us a different class. Not only is he one of the best passers i have seen for years, he beats players, shoots but most surprisingly his tackling back is excellent, something i didn’t expect from him. Def reminds me of a more skillful Freddie.