Andrey Arshavin: As a child I supported Barcelona but I’m now a satisfied Gunner
Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin revealed he supported Barcelona as a child but how he has no intention of leaving Arsenal to join the Spanish giants.
Reports last month suggested that the Russian was considering leaving the North London Club to play for Barcelona next season but speaking to his official website, the 29-year old explained how he didn’t hesitate when he was offered the possibility to join the Gunners and how he is satisfied with everything at the club.
By his standards, the midfielder was very disappointing last season and seemed to suffer badly after his National side failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup Finals.
Never shy to speak about his emotions, the Arsenal man did in fact admit last week how his season was nothing special, describing it as pitiful when speaking to The Sun and in a previous interview, he also explained how manager Arsene Wenger told the players before the summer break that trophies need to be won in the future.
Arshavin said:
As a child I supported Barcelona, I do not deny that. Actually I continue to root for Barca in the Spanish championship.
As for the English championship, I’ve always liked Arsenal, so when I had an opportunity to join this club, I happily agreed. So I’ve never seen myself as a player of any other English club. Again, I am a Gunner, and I am satisfied with everything.
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I still do not believe that means he is staying. I guess someone has finally told him he can not join Barca with his lazy performance of last season.
Anyway, players go and players come, he can go if he wishes but if he is staying then let him stay with his whole heart and not half of him like we saw last season.
Arshavin played with despite an injury mostly because of striker crisis… how dare anyone question his commitment. You are wrong about him.
I think as fans we have EVERY right to question the commitment of the players who play for the club. Do you actually take us fans as blind fools? Anyone in their right state of mind can see how a player performs and carries himself on the pitch and practically a players body language shows you much about the player on his levels of commitment as well. You may claim he was carrying an injury, fair enough, but has every other Arsenal player who has been carrying some form of injury at some point in the season made as much as a big deal of it as Arsh has? Fab with a BROKEN right fibula still soldiered on and THATS WHAT WE CALL COMMITMENT YOU GOON!!
“at some point in the season made as much as a big deal of it as Arsh has?”
Did he make a big deal of it? How do you know how painful it was for him? I mean I wouldnt question song’s commitment at all, hes probably my favourite player in the squad, but he only soldiers on with an injury till the end of a game it seems. And he does so admirably as it barely seems to affect his performance, but arshavin kept going in an unfamiliar role because there was no one else to do it who wenger trusted.
He occupied defenders who were often twice his size in this new role and imho we would have been out of the title race in January if it wasn’t for his contribution. Yes he was a little dry at times, he’s never been my favourite player anyway, but you have to respect what he did on the pitch this year.
very good point you made there. I remember when we signed arshavin , i will admit like everyone else i didnt get to watch him week in week out in the russian league , but i do remember a few ex pros saying hes a player who has sparks of brilliance like he shows for russia. He can be quiet for long periods thenb bursts into life. When he has done this for arsenal hes been brilliant . So i dont think his body language says he doesnt want to there , ITS JUST HIM . Remember Thierry Henry could look pretty miserable at th e best of times too . But he was still class.
Arshavin , Great player
Well put.
Dear soccerfanbase.com , your opinion is very subjective and not well considered. Arshavin is a top class player who has a huge impact on the team’s success. We missed him while he was out injured. He is a real special talent.
He is a bit of a character Andrey. I don’t see him leaving. Unless a good offer from Barcelona comes in which is unlikely. He is honest so I think he will stay but hopefully will perform to a higher standard. I don’t judge him to much for there is no way to know how badly Russia’s failure to qualify affected him + it was a much longer season then he is used to without a break I realy feel he will impress next season.
I hope Arshavin plays his heart out next year and then we can sell him to Barca for £40m.
I haven’t been impressed with a player that struggles to last 90mins, doesn’t look like he can make the grade in EPL and at 29yrs hasn’t proved to be a well rounded mature figure on and off field. He probably is suited to the less rigourous 2 horse race of la liga.
Fantastic goals against Liverpool are not enough for a to justify his place at Arsenal. He loves his ’super star’ status which based on his current form is not warranted or good enough in my opinion.
OFFTOPIC
People complain about us not having significant backup but I did some research and I think he was great backup
ST – Chamak, Bendtner
ST – Van Persie, Eduardo, Vela
LM – Arshavin, Nasri
RM – Walcott, Rosicky
A CM – Fabregas, Ramsey, Wislhere
CM – Diaby, SOng, Denilson
RB – Sagna, Eboue
LB – Clichy, Gibbs
CB – Koscielny, Djourou, Sol
CB – Vermaelen, Norvedit
GK – Schwarzer, Almunia
——– Van Persie — Chamak —————
Arshavin —- Song —- Fabrgeas —– Rosicky
Clichy — Vermaelen —- Koscielny —- Sagna
————————- Schwarzer
New Arrivals
Chamak – ST
Koscielny – CB
Schwarzer – GK
less than 10 million pounds in transfer fees and a good looking team by any standards we might sell Eduardo and Rosicky and bring in cole in his place but that’s about it
DO you think with this team we have a chance of winning the PL next season?
Are you sure that fabregas is going to stay? Barca will offer him more money and more trophies than arsenal.And also,guardiola is his idol and role model.What makes you think that fabregas will stay next season after failing to win anything even after 5 years in the club?
Barca can’t afford to pay for him.
Do you think we’ll switch back to a 4-4-2 formation next season? I’m just wondering because Chris had that formation as well?
I thought the 4-3-3 was promising and suits the types of players we have from an attacking pov but we need to work on it defensively as the fullbacks were horribly exposed and we were too often open to counter attacks.
Im not convinced schwarzer will be the signing to be honest. He sounds expensive for his age, but an older keeper might be good because I think whoever we get (if we actually get anyone) will just be keeping the seat warm for szczesny.
Oh, btw dont forget wellington is coming in Jan. I was watching him this morning. Hes like a young van persie with pace!
yeah i agreed with soccerfanbase that it does not meant that he will stay be a gunner. he keeps saying about barcelona on how he loved the way they played and wanted to join the club badly and says it will be the top of his career if he join the catalan. but lets hope for the best that he’ll be stay a gunner til he retire. we would love to see him score lots of goals and be the key player of arsenal next season with v.persie. We really hope and finger crossed that fabregas will stay a gunner and honour his contracts