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Arshavin must earn our respect - Williams
by Steve Tucker
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Photo: images.teamtalk.com
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WALES defender Ashley Williams has challenged Russian superstar
Andrei Arshavin to earn his respect in Moscow.
Williams and defensive partner Craig Morgan will be charged with keeping
the livewire Arshavin and team-mate Roman Pavlyuchenko quiet as Wales
look to pull off the ultimate upset against the Euro 2008 semi-finalists.
In footballing terms, however, the contrasts could not be starker.
Arshavin, a Uefa Cup winner with Zenit St Petersburg, was the revelation
at this summer's European Championship and linked with big-money moves
to Barcelona, Arsenal and Tottenham.
Pavlyuchenko did make the move to White Hart Lane for ?14m following a
lethal spell in front of goal for Spartak Moscow.
Morgan, meanwhile, plies his trade in League One with Peterborough while
24-year-old Williams became Swansea City's record signing when he moved
to the Liberty Stadium from Stockport for ?400,000 in May.
It has been a meteoric rise for Williams who not long ago found himself
playing in non-league football with Hednesford Town while working part-time
at a funfair.
But despite admitting tomorrow's clash is the biggest of his life, the
bullish Williams (pictured right) is refusing to get overawed by the reputation
of 27-year-old Arshavin.
'He has done nothing to earn my respect yet. He is top class, but he is
just another person at the end of the day,' said Williams who is set to
earn his sixth cap.
'He has done well in games, but I have not played against him, if I had
I would probably have a different view. But he has done nothing against
me yet.
'Concentration will be the big thing in dealing with him. He is a brilliant
player.
'I've only seen him on the TV, but our staff have the DVDs, they have
been looking at him and keeping us fully informed.
'At the end of the day he is just another striker to mark. I will be going
out there to try and do my best against him. Basically I'm going out there
to play my own game.'
Following a laboured 1-0 win over Azerbaijan on Saturday, John Toshack
and his squad know they are going to have to raise their game against
the Russians.
But after grabbing three points in their opener, Williams insists Wales
travel to face Guus Hiddink's side with real confidence.
'Russia are a top team and we are expecting a very hard game,' said Williams.
'We go there with no fear though and we will just see what we can do.
'They have a lot of quality and it is going to be very different to Azerbaijan,
but we are ready.
'Defensively against Azerbaijan we did not have a lot to do, but this
time we are expecting to be very busy.
'When you are playing at this level you can't really afford to make one
mistake, if you do you will be punished.
'It is a mental thing really, you have to stay focused throughout the
game and not give the forwards a chance.
'We are fully aware of what they can and can't do. The aim is to go out
there and try and keep them quiet.
'In fact we are going out there to try to win the game. We will see what
happens, but if we can come away with a clean sheet we will be very happy.
'Then we just hope our boys can do something at the other end.
'If not, it's a 0-0 and we can move on.'
Williams is also now preparing himself for the hostile atmosphere of Moscow's
Lokomotiv Stadium.
He is no stranger to the big occasion having represented his country in
front of 50,000 Dutch fans in a friendly during the summer. Although he
is expecting things to be rather different tomorrow.
'The atmosphere in Holland was one that maybe you could enjoy,' said Williams.
'They are quite nice fans, but I'm not too sure about the Russians.
'It will probably be a difficult place to go. It's not going to be the
same. It is going to be a bit of a cauldron in there.
'But this is what it is all about. This is why we are here. You go to
Russia and you find out what you are made of.
'It will be the most important game I have ever played in. It really means
something to me. It is massively important.'
Midlander Williams, who qualifies for Wales through his mother, is the
first to admit stepping out for a World Cup qualifier in Russia is an
experience he feared might pass him by.
And following his dramatic progress at club and international level he
does admit to pausing occasionally just to reflect on how far he has come.
'Sometimes I do need to take time out to try to put things into perspective
about where I have come from,' added Williams.
'I'm just enjoying it and waiting to really see how far I can go, but
I think I am improving all the time.
'Training with good players every day at Swansea and the fact every game
is massive in the Championship is helping.
'You find yourself playing against the likes of Rob Earnshaw, people like
that and it can only make me better.
'I've got a few more caps for Wales now as well so I feel I'm a better
player, but with a lot more to learn of course.'
There is no doubt a certain Mr Arshavin will be looking to further the
centre-half's education in Moscow tomorrow evening.
Walesonline.co.uk,
Sep 9 2008
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