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Andrey Arshavin's Striking Role Is Not A Permanent Solution
- Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger
Russian to be employed on the flank in due course...
By Alan Dawson
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Andrey Arshavin Photo telegraph.co.uk
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In the absence of creative forward Robin van Persie and
towering Dane Nicklas Bendtner, Andrey Arshavin has found himself deputising
as Arsenal's main front man over recent weeks. Nevertheless, despite some
solid performances as a makeshift centre forward, Arsene Wenger has maintained
that the Russian's central role is only a temporary solution.
Arshavin has not scored since the 2-1 win over Liverpool, yet has been
fundamental to the club's attacking fluency and consequent rise up of
the Premier League ladder as they aim to minimise the gap between themselves,
and pace-setting Chelsea at the head of the division.
The Gunners could leapfrog their London rivals and secure top spot with
a convincing win over Bolton Wanderers at home on Wednesday evening, a
side whom they defeated 2-0 away from home at the weekend, and Wenger
said to the club's official website ahead of the game: "Andrey's
movement around the box is intelligent and, at the end of the day, how
our strikers do that makes a difference for teams like us.
"In every game we have the ball 60 per cent of the time and when
we do have it we play against 10 players in their own half.
"So what makes the difference is intelligence and movement around
the box in the final third and [Andrey] is very good in the short space."
"He started very well up front but in the last few games he had a
few more difficulties. He had a foot injury and could kick the ball properly.
He is now coming back.
"But I do not deny as well that our plan in the future is to put
him back where he was - playing on the left."
Goal.com,
Jan 20, 2010
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