Arshavin targets Russian title

Andrey Arshavin wants to help Zenit St Petersburg retain the Russian Premier League title after rejoining the club from Arsenal.

Luciano Spalletti’s Zenit side finished top of the table in the first half of the season, but will now compete in a group made up of the top eight sides to determine the title winners.

“I want to play and I want to make Zenit champions this year,” Arshavin told Sport Express.

“I will do everything in my power to lead the team to the title.”

Arshavin, 30, arrived back at his former club with just minutes remaining in the Russian transfer window, and said the last-minute move was not a straightforward process.

“Friday was a difficult day,” he said.

“Everything was decided at the last minute. I guess my transfers cannot be resolved any quicker,” he joked, referring to his last-minute arrival at Arsenal in 2009.

Zenit resume their pursuit of a second successive Russian Premier League title with a match away to CSKA Moscow on March 3.