I am still of the opinion that to win trophies Arsenal needs more players. There is the simple fact that last summer we sold two players and bought only one. So there is an obvious deficit of at least one. So for me it is natural we need new players. Without the variety of players we have less diversity in attack. I do not have a sense of stability in my game. I feel I can match them (Fabregas, Drogba, Torres) and sometimes when I catch some inspiration I show performances that are on the same level or close to them. But I am still not as consistent as them.
The longer Arshavin is at the club, the more he talks. From his own comments on his personal website to the interviews he gives, there’s is never a dull moment in the the life of the Russian. For he seems to have an opinion on everything. From football to life and everything else under the sun. Like Arseblog, I also find the timing of his first comment to be slightly off.
Whether it is the translation from Russian to English that is the issue, is another matter. The gist of the comment is there for all to see. When the team is in contention to finish as champions of the league as well as emerging victorious in Europe, having this kind of thoughts from one of the experienced player is the squad is not welcomed. What the other players in the squad do not need now, is doubts. And that single piece of doubt is very contagious. From a single person, it can easily affects and spread to the entire squad.
Concentration and focus is the key to our hunt for glory this season. We must not allow any distraction from the outside, let alone within our own camp. How Arshavin is allowed to give such statement bewilders me. Where is the PR officer within Arsenal? Shouldn’t there be a set of guidelines and some form of control over players giving out public statements. Shouldn’t there be a PR officer with any of the players during their interviews? Either Wenger or Gazidis will have to put the foot on the brakes and have a certain measure of control over what’s being said.
The second statement however, cannot be further from the truth. It is a statement of pure honesty and perhaps that is why we have a love/hate relationship with the things that Arshavin says. On occasions he has been mesmerizing to Arsenal and shows perhaps that Fabregas is not the only truly world class player in the team. The quadruple at Anfield and the display at home against Porto are just 2 of such occasions. Sadly, it lacks consistency. There’s no other way around it. His moments of brilliance are replaced with misplaced passes, going for the jugular when there’s an option for an easy pass as well as selfishness on the ball.
The move to centre of the attack has not helped his cause. One thing that is consistent about Arshavin is that he is a big game player. The games against Barcelona are maybe just the kind of games that will suit him best. Unfortunately, that is not the game to talk about yet. There’s still the matter of Birmingham on Saturday. On that day, Arshavin should let his feet do all the talking and help to keep us in the title hunt.
Silence sometimes can be golden. Till tomorrow.