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ARSHAVIN: FIGHT FOR TOP FOUR CONTINUES
The Russian legionary in England Andrei Arshavin spent the first full
time match for his new club Arsenal on Saturday.
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Andrei Arshavin Photo REUTERS
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In the home match against Fulham Arshavin was one of the
most active players among the Gunners and was honoured the title of the
best Arsenal player of the match by Skysports.
But the match ended up not the way Arsene Wenger wanted: the players of
the French coach finished the game with the fourth consecutive nil draw
in the Premier League.
- How was your second game in England?
- In fact it turned out a mere copy of the previous game with Sunderland.
Again we had a lot of scoring chances but nils remained on the scoreboard.
It is the fourth goalless draw of Arsenal so the feelings are not very
pleasant.
- Was this nil draw series discussed within the team?
- Almost no. And is there sense to discuss it? Everybody understands it
by himself that it is not normal.
- Are you pleased with your own play?
- In general I am not pleased. The match was very difficult for me. And
moreover there were several unsuccessful moments. I feel pity for those
two rebounds after corners that I have spoilt twice shooting wide.
- But there were also other episodes. I counted three assists of yours
that had all the chances to become goals but were not used properly by
the teammates.
- I came here not to count my personal goals or assists. Most important
is that our team wins and we do only with draws now. And every draw moves
us away from our main task - getting into the Champions League next year.
- You also had a couple of your own moments when this dull nil could have
turn to one.
- Do you mean my shot above the goal in the first half? In that episode
a pass was too strong and it was not convenient to kick the ball. But
at the end of match I really had a good chance. But the goalie of the
opponent was wonderful. We are very luck with good days for rivals' goaltenders!
At first Sunderland's man Marton Fulop played excellently, and now Schwarzer.
- For the match you have changed three positions: started as the right
halfback, then swapped for the attack and ended in left-wing midfield.
Does this change create difficulty on the field?
- No, position changing makes no trouble. The other question is how effective
I am on this or that position. But that is for the coach to decide.
- For several times your teammates did not mention how you were open.
Don't they trust you?
- Most likely they do not understand me fully. We are only getting used
to one another. For example in Zenit Anyukov having passed to me knew
where to run to get the return ball and here we should work hard to create
this cooperation. The more we play together the less I will be without
attention and the more effective our game will be.
- And now you have simplified your play. Or does it only look so?
- This happens because of my desire to make as few mistakes as possible.
I should get used to the new game and new partners and after that my game
would get into the groove.
- For the onlooker you looked rather tired in the middle of the second
half. Is it right?
- Yeah, that is it. I was rather tired even in the first half and in the
second one I felt dreadful fatigue. To tell the truth I lack freshness
for the whole match yet. But I assume that it will become easier and easier
every match. I should get into my best form as soon as possible as in
two and a half months we are having holidays again. That is why it was
very important for me that I spent all 90 minutes on the field against
Fulham.
- If you fail to get into the Champions League will it be a blow for the
club?
- Nobody even dares to think about it! Of course we have made our position
in the race for the place in top four more complicated but the fight is
not over yet.
- The English Premier League became immensely popular in Russia. Is it
important for you?
- It is important that there are people who sincerely feel nervous about
me. I am thankful for this and promise to do everything possible to live
up to their expectations.
Sport
Express Daily, 02 Mar 2009
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