Good morning and welcome to another edition of Arshblog, the blog dedicated to bringing the latest and greatest news about football’s most Owliest Russian.
This morning I can report that Andrei Arshavin had a fantastic day yesterday. He and his wife went shopping to the supermarket to cheer themselves up after a very trying week. Of course he’s been upset that the move to Arsenal has been so protracted and not only that – he discovered that a family of rare moles has been living his his spare bedroom, which meant the RSPCA (yes, it works) have scuppered plans to build a cross between a steam room and a sauna. Russia will just have to wait for its first stauna.
Then last night came the good news that Andrei’s best friend, Igor, has been released from prison where he spent the last 17 years after cannibalising his entire family in a hilarious Christmas prank! And things got even better when it became known that Arsenal and Zenit St Petersburg have, apparently, agreed on a fee which would see Andrei become an Arsenal player.
We’ll have more on that in the days ahead and don’t forget our regular Saturday feature – Andrei’s Underpants in which we take a closer look at our man’s Y-fronts. So that’s it for today’s Arshblog, more tomorrow. Do svidanija!
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Thank you to our Russian correspondent for that update. We’ll hear more about this in the coming hours/days, no doubt, until such point as Zenit say “Agreement? What agreement? We agreed nothing. And Arshavin is being sent to the salt mines until he learns some manners”.
Seriously though, it would be no surprise if something else were to happen to this deal so let’s not jump for joy, or half-glee (which is my preferred happy leap), just yet.
There was some sad news in the transfer market too. Apparently we’ve turned down a bid from Atletico Madrid for Emmanuel Eboue and according to Eboue’s agent he’s been invited to London for talks about extending Eboue’s contract.
Now, while the first part might cause a grown man to weep bitter tears over his keyboard of a morning the second part would be enough to take him to the top of a tall building to test his ability to bounce off the ground below.
However, I suspect it’s all a load of bollocks really. Eboue only signed a new ‘long term’ (weeps) contract in May 2007 and he’s hardly done enough for the manager to offer him a new one already. When you have players like Theo and Robin van Persie waiting on new deals I don’t think there’s even the slightest chance that we’re going to extend Eboue’s contract. Let’s face it, he has been desperately poor this season, he was poor last season, at some point we’ve got to cut our losses with the ‘pass master’.
I think we’d be quite mad to turn down any team who offered us any money whatsoever for Eboue.
Better news about Eduardo though. He’s feeling no ill-effects of the 90 minutes against Stoke Reserves the other night and he’s chomping at the bit for first team action. He says:
I think I am ready for the first team but you would have to ask the boss. I feel very well and I’m training hard every day. But playing my first game for the first team, I am ready now and I am just waiting for my chance.
Great news, and perhaps the boss might stick him on the bench for the FA Cup game. I suspect he’ll ease him back in very gradually though.
In other news Aaron Ramsey admits to ‘mixed feelings‘ ahead of Sunday’s game against his old club. I suppose that’s only natural having grown up there. I think he’ll play on Sunday too, I reckon the boss will have one eye on Wednesday’s game against Everton and will mix things up a little bit.
Meanwhile Nicklas Bendtner has apparently turned down the chance to join Hoffenheim.
Right then, that’s the news. Time for the Arsecast. On this week’s show we get some of your thoughts about the Arshavin saga, the Man in the Bar has a player history, there’s a tale of the unexpected plus the usual waffle.
You can subscribe to the Arsecast iTunes by clicking here. Or if you want to subscribe directly to the feed URL you can do so too. To download this week’s arsecast directly – click here 22mb MP3) or you can listen directly below without leaving this very page.
Right then, that’s your lot. A fuller FA Cup preview with team news and what have you on tomorrow’s blog.
