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The Big Interview: Andrey Arshavin
By John Cross
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Photo mirrorfootball.co.uk
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Andrey Arshavin had a brief stint in politics but will never
become a diplomat.
Arshavin has gained a reputation for his honest and sometimes brutal assessment
of Arsenal, his team mates and their chances of success.
Once again, Arshavin is pulling no punches but he is in a positive, jovial
mood ahead of what he says will be the three games - starting against
Manchester United - which will decide whether Arsenal can win the title.
"I think now is the defining period of time for Arsenal and on February
10 you will see whether we are in the race or whether we will have to
forget about it," admitted Arshavin.
"I think we will be and of course I hope we will be. Of course, in
this season, I would like to win something, it would be great. It is achievable,
I know we can do it." Arsenal face title rivals United tomorrow,
leaders Chelsea on Sunday week and then, on February 10, they entertain
Liverpool.
Arshavin will have to be a central figure if Arsenal are to win their
next three games and remain in what is becoming the tightest and most
entertaining race in Premier League history.
The Russian has been a revelation at Arsenal since his arrival 12 months
ago. Arshavin is one of the league's great entertainers with his skill,
eye for the spectacular and he is also far from being your average footballer.
Arshavin is happy to talk about life as well as football, his love of
ballet, hatred of parking in London and also his brief foray into politics
back in St Petersburg.
Maybe that is where he gets his straight-talking from. This season he
has said the club must not use youth as an excuse and they must win something
this year.
Arshavin says he is a committed democrat when it comes to political views
and admits that sometimes his outbursts have caused concern as to whether
they would get him into trouble.
"I once got involved in politics. I supported one party in an election
in St Petersburg in the local elections in my home town," said Arshavin.
"I am a democrat. I like people to feel freedom, I like people who
have a special view on life, people who have an opinion, I like that a
lot.
"I think it's always been in my heart, I always try to say what I'm
seeing. Some people get upset with what I say. I hear people say around
me that I shouldn't do it but so far it's not caused me a lot of problems.
"I like to be independent. I became like this because my mother always
told me as well to speak to my mind. But I don't follow politics here."
He is not interested in British politics, but Arshavin is keen on ballet,
walks in the park with his son Artem, four, and daughter Yana, two, near
his London home and his wife Yulia has enjoyed becoming a Premier League
footballer's wife.
She enjoys hanging out with Samir Nasri's girlfriend, Tatiana Golovin,
the Russian-born French tennis star. Twelve months after joining, Arshavin
is happy with life and Arsenal.
Arshavin said: "I like the entertainment here. I like going to places
with my family here, I like to go for walks in the park because I live
near Primrose Hill, Regents Park and I've started to spend a lot of time
there with my family.
"I like to go to shows. I went this month to the ballet and the musical
Chicago. In Russia you have good shows as well, but here I can't go to
the theatre for dramatic shows because I don't understand English so well.
"In Russia, I went to the theatre for a drama or a comedy but here
I can't so I go to musicals or the ballet. In St Petersburg, we have the
most famous ballet in the world but I've not been for ten years. Here,
I've already been three or four times.
"My wife likes shopping. She has got a good attitude with the other
footballers and their girlfriends, she enjoys that.
"She especially gets on with Samir's girlfriend because she is French
but was born in Russia. They are in contact and spend time together when
we are away." And the food? "Two months after I moved here,
it was a problem for me," he admitted. "But now I have found
some restaurants which are good for me and that's not a problem.
"My only problem here is the parking, just the parking. Oh, and also
if my children are sick then it's difficult to see a doctor straight away
or some pills.
"You can't park where you want, you always have to park ten or 15
minutes walk away and that's difficult after training or after too many
games." Arsenal now face a run of games where Arshavin admits they
will have to be at their very best to stay in the race, especially as
Chelsea could be five points clear by the time Manchester United come
to the Emirates tomorrow.
But Arshavin says that confidence and belief has grown within the Arsenal
camp since losing at Old Trafford way back in August.
Arshavin said: "If we go into Sunday five points behind Chelsea then
we must win the next three games.
"When we were at Old Trafford, we were a little bit scared when we
were leading 1-0 and I don't have any concern now about the team. I am
sure we will show a good performance.
"Sometimes it's not enough, but in this game we will have to make
sure that it is enough.
"If you don't believe in your team, then you shouldn't come onto
the pitch. I hope we will win on Sunday but they will believe we can win
as well.
"It's been a good race so far. But I prefer to hear that someone
is behind us because we're ahead in the race and are trying to catch us."
Mirrorfootball.co.uk,
29/01/10
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