I've lost my spark at Arsenal claims Andrey Arshavin
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I've lost my spark at Arsenal, claims £15m Russian star Andrey Arshavin
Kept quiet: Arshavin admits he can't remember the last time he scored a 'beautiful goal' for Arsenal
Andrey Arshavin admits he has lost the sparkle that made Arsenal splash out £15million to sign him from Zenit St Petersburg 19 months ago.
The Russia star initially dazzled in England, hitting his peak with four goals against Liverpool at Anfield, but his form last season was sporadic and punctuated by injuries.
Despite scoring twice in three games for the Gunners this season, he has still been uninspiring and admits his game has changed since moving to the Barclays Premier League.
‘The year and a half in England has significantly changed me,’ he told Russian newspaper Sport-Express. ‘I became calmer, more professional and spend more time with my family.’
‘As for football I can say that my style has also altered – it is more effective but less sparkling. I don’t remember when was the last time I score a really beautiful goal.
‘It’s frustrating. I tried to analyse this, but can find no answers. It is likely that my injuries last year had an affect, because on three occasions I was out for a month, but it is feeble to talk about injuries.’
Despite the lack of form, Arshavin was somehow judged the best player of Russia or former Soviet countries for August, collecting the prestigious Zvezda award voted for by journalists.
‘I am very much surprised,’ he admitted. ‘If I became No 1 last month that means there were no other significant events. Of course I scored two goals in the three starting matches but that is not enough to win a month’s award.’
Attack: Andrei Kanchelskis says Arshavin (above) is overrated and inconsistent
It is certainly a view likely to be shared by one man who took England by storm: Andrei Kanchelskis.
The former Manchester United and Everton winger has launched a scathing assessment of his 29-year-old compatriot.
‘To start with, Arshavin seldom plays for 90 minutes and is usually substituted in the second half,’ said Kanchelskis. ‘When he plays each match from start to finish, then we will see.
‘In the first match (of the season) against Liverpool, you didn’t see him in the box. A week later Blackpool conceded six goals, Arshavin took a penalty and scored. But you need to understand the level of the opponent.
‘And then Blackburn, who he scored the winning goal against, are far from a top club.
‘In my opinion, Arshavin is overrated. He has been praised too much. He hasn’t shown brilliance for a very long time. The main thing is consistency, which Arshavin doesn’t have.’
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Very true
He doesn't score any interesting goals or those goals that are superb... I still rmb his 4 goals aganist liverpool.....
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there's this saying "cannot swim don't say underwear too big".. haha..
anyway, i guess mayb he's those "late bloomers" la.. needs time..
if one really has substance, go which league should not be a problem bah..
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no luh, no battery only. recharge and you will be good to go again.
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ANDREI KANCHELSKIS dare to say Arshavin is over-rated ???!!!
Kanchelskis is the most over-rated player of all time............apart from running fast, he's virtually useless...........
can't dribble at all, only kick the ball past the defender and outrun him (like Michael Owen)..............can't shoot................can't cross the ball properly to save his arse...............
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what talking you la....he was one of the manu u greats. And he can really pull defenders wide, so wide that he creates spaces for mark hughes and cantona to score.