Gunnerblog

Highlights from Arshavin interview; Chamakh hopes for Arsenal bid

267 guns July 17th, 2009

Andrey Arshavin has given an in-depth interview to SkySports, which will most likely be used as part of their coverage of the Emirates Cup.  However, you can watch it here, or read a few choice excerpts below.  Read Andrey’s thoughts…

…on Arsene Wenger:

He is the reason I am here.  Of course he is a very strong coach.  He gives me a freedom on the pitch - I like it.  He is everything at Arsenal.

…on where Wenger deploys him:

He gives me freedom and he found out a new position for me.  I never played left-midfield before I came to Arsenal, but we will see what will happen.

…on his preferred position:

I would like to play in the position where I am useful for the team.

…on Emmanuel Adebayor’s potential move to City:

I think it’s a very difficult question for Arsenal and for Adebayor aswell.  He is an excellent striker - everybody knows him - he can score from nothing.  But it’s his decision: does he want to stay or does he want to leave?

…on needing to strengthen:

Now we hvae a strong squad - I don’t have any doubts - but I told you: if we need someone, Arsene will buy - it’s his decision.  He knows better.

…on playing for Arsenal in the Champions League:

I want to play in the Champions League very much.  I am looking forward to our first game in the Champions League because we have to qualify, and of course now it’s my first target.

…on what it would mean to win for Arsenal to win the Champions League:

It means everything, because Arsenal didn’t get any trophies for several years.

…on his favourite Arsenal goal:

I can say my first goal for Arsenal [against Blackburn], because the first goal is always important for any player.

…on his four-goal haul at Anfield:

Of course now most people recognise me as a boy who scored four goals!  But now I have to prove it happened because I am a strong player.

…on the Arsenal player who has impressed me most:

I think it’s Cesc Fabregas.  His vision is excellent: he plays every ball into a perfect position for our players.  He is fantastic.

…on what he likes about football:

I like scoring, I like winning, I like celebrating something.

…on what he doesn’t like about football:

Training alot!  But I know I am professional and I know I must do it!

…on wanting to renegotiate his contract to improve his takehome wage:

I did not complain about tax - it’s a newspaper which writes a lot.  Of course, if the government of England put rates up, I think no-one will be happy.

Typically forthright stuff from the spiky Russian.  It’s pretty exciting to be heading into his first full season as an Arsenal player - during the interview he was keen to stress that we haven’t yet seen the best of him, which makes for a mouth-watering prospect in the coming months.

It’s also good, if not particularly surprising, to hear about his respect for the abilities of Cesc Fabregas.  Getting those two working in tandem is going to be key to our chances of success - and holding on to those two players in the summer of 2010 will be a hell of a lot easier if we end the year with a trophy.

Emmanuel Adebayor’s move to Man City drags on.  The press are suggesting the hold up is over personal terms, which seems to make sense: Arsenal and City appear to have reached an agreement on the £25m fee some time ago.  The sooner there’s some resolution on this the better, so let’s hope we hear something more progressive today.

The man being mooted as Adebayor’s replacement, Marouane Chamakh, has once again signalled his interest in moving to London:

“Arsenal would be perfect for me because it is a big club and I know some of the players in the squad.”

Chamakh is a talented player and would be an interesting option, but if needs be I’d far rather all the money went on that all-important central midfielder.

Have a good Friday, everyone.

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