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Arshavin Lambasts Arsenal Team-Mates After Chelsea Shambles
Harsh words from the winter signing, who was
forced to sit out Sunday's heavy defeat...
By Peter Staunton
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Out of puff: Andrey Arshavin getting to grips
with the pace of the English game Photo: goal.com
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The Arsenal playmaker, Andrey Arshavin has hit out at his
side for their anaemic display against Chelsea at the weekend.
The Russian, who missed the game through illness, was dismayed at the
lack of attitude and ability in the Arsenal ranks, as the Gunners were
condemned to their heaviest home defeat in over three decades.
A strong Arsenal start soon gave way to utter Chelsea dominance, who ran
out easy 4-1 winners against pedestrian hosts.
Arshavin believes that the Blues showed that they were a better side and
crucially, that they wanted it more.
Both sides hurtled out of the Champions League in the midweek prior, and
the former Zenit captain feels his side should have done much better.
He told the Daily Mail, "Arsenal played properly only in the starting
15 or 20 minutes.
"After that, there was a feeling that it wasn't an important match
but some ordinary training session.
"We woke up only after getting a goal back but that wasn't enough.
Chelsea managed to convert their chances and we didn't - they were more
skilful."
Arshavin is also disappointed to have missed another opportunity to become
reacquainted with his Russian national team boss, Guus Hiddink. Furthermore,
the tempestuous attacker could not resist another pop at his manager,
Arsene Wenger, for his decision to drop him to the bench for the FA Cup
semi-final; a competition which was Arshavin's only chance of silverware
this season.
He concluded, "Guus [Hiddink] asked about my health and then told me:
'It's very good that you're not playing today, get away from the pitch'.
It's as if destiny doesn't let me play against Guus."
"In the cup match, Wenger kept me on the bench and allowed me to play
only for several final minutes. And now I had to miss the Premier League
game too."
Goal.com,
12 May 2009
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