Wenger backs Arshavin as Spurs welcome Keane

Arsene Wenger has hinted that new signing Andrei Arshavin could be involved in Arsenal’s derby clash with Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Sunday, despite the Russian playmaker’s lack of match fitness.

Arshavin has received a work permit but his recent lack of a run out means he is likely to be on the bench at best this weekend. But Wenger believes it will not be long before he is making his mark on English football.

“I believe he is talented, intelligent and motivated,” Wenger said Friday. “When you have these things together, you always have a chance to make an impact.

“But you have to give him time as well. He is not fit at the moment because he had only 10 days preparation after a long break.

“The worst thing for a player is not being ready to play in a game of that intensity, or getting injured before having kicked a ball for the team.

“I will see what kind of shape he is in on Saturday to see if he will be involved in the squad or not. We are not in a hurry with him.”

Arsenal are unbeaten in ten matches but have slipped to five points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, seriously endangering their chances of a return to the Champions League next season.

With Spurs battling to pull away from the relegation zone, the stakes for Sunday’s derby are high.

But Wenger insisted: “We have what it takes, without Arshavin. The team is maturing – it’s a very young team – we have shown that against Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea. This team can compete with anybody.”

Tottenham have spent big in the transfer window to bring Robbie Keane and Pascal Chimbonda back to north London, as well as acquiring the services of Wilson Palacios, the former Wigan midfielder who first came to England on a trial at Arsenal.

Keane is relishing the prospect of a return to the Tottenham side as he attempts to put his unhappy six months at Liverpool behind him.

“Things happen for a reason,” the Irishman said. “It didn’t work out for me and now I’m back with a fantastic club and a fantastic manager who believes in his players.

“I’m training with a smile on my face again. I did everything I had to do (at Liverpool), did everything possible to play but sometimes the manager just doesn’t fancy you, simple as that.

“But not playing is difficult. It’s difficult to take being left out of a squad. That hasn’t happened to me since I started playing when I was 17.

Keane added: “Tottenham is a club that’s close to my heart and I’m really looking forward to going out there and putting that jersey on.

“Liverpool is the past and I’m concentrating on the future.”

Keane makes no bones about the desperate nature of Tottenham’s current situation.

“The reality is we are in a relegation battle and it’s our responsibility to get ourselves out,” he said. “It’s clear to see the lads have been low on confidence but it’s up to me and up to the rest of the players to get back to where I think the club should be, which is in the top 10.”

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is counting on Keane’s personality to lift his struggling squad.

“In training this week I’ve noticed a big difference, Robbie being around rubs off on everyone and he’ll be very important for us,” Redknapp said.

“He’s a voice. He’s says what he feels and if he doesn’t agree with something he’ll say. If someone’s not pulling their weight, I think in a nice way he’ll let them know.

“You need people like that. We are a very, very quiet team and we have a lot of quiet lads. Robbie is a very bubbly lad, which is important.”