Andrey Arshavin Threatens to Leave Arsenal

According to Sport Express, Andrey Arshavin has said that he will consider leaving the Gunners if he doesn’t get enough playing time.

“Right now I don’t think about changing clubs. If I will be benched for a very long time, then such an issue might be relevant,” said Arshavin.

“I still want to play for 90 minutes, but now I am glued to the bench. I wouldn’t like to play for a Russian club other than Zenit [St Petersburg], and there were no contacts with Anzhi Makhachkala.

“I still support Barcelona. They are the best team.”

At this point, Arshavin’s best option would be to return to Russia and join Anzhi Makhachkala.

He would probably earn the same salary, if not more, and he would playing in his home country.

Plus, the emergence of English starlet Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain will surely limit Arshavin’s future opportunities at the Emirates.

After what the Russian international said about Arsene Wenger, he should not expect any significant playing time in the near future.

“Wenger is a very strict manager. He always gladly helps when there are difficulties off the pitch, but nobody at Arsenal even thinks to talk him into changes when it comes to football issues. The answer is obvious to everyone,” he said.

“It’s true that Wenger has a unique philosophy. Sometimes you know that you will be replaced at 70 minutes, regardless of how well you play. Sometimes you sit on the bench and know for sure you will enter the game at 65 minutes.

“Wenger has full support from the board. I think he will leave Arsenal only when he chooses to.”

If Arshavin wasn’t on Wenger’s bad side before, he surely is now.

The Gunners winger also commented on the departures of Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri, and Cesc Fabregas, and the promotion of Robin van Persie from vice-captain to captain.

“Gael Clichy left for Man City quietly, but Samir Nasri is another matter,” he said.

“I tried to convince him to stay with us, and I thought he would play at Arsenal for one more season, especially as Wenger wanted him.

“But then the financial aspect became important – the club didn’t want to lose £25m. Nasri would have become a free agent within a year.

“I didn’t try to persuade Cesc Fabregas to stay. He had to go to the team he was born to play for.

“I don’t know if Van Persie’s goalscoring form is related to Fabregas’ transfer. Maybe it is, but it’s also because he is in great physical shape.

“Wherever the ball is in the penalty area, Van Persie is there. And for the first time I’m here, he is injury-free for three months.

“Van Persie is captain because he played the most games for Arsenal, he has Wenger’s full support, and he was vice-captain under Cesc. There couldn’t be another choice. Hopefully, he will lead us somewhere.”