|
ARSHAVIN: IF I CAN PLAY, I WILL
| |
|
|
Photo football365.com
|
Andrey Arshavin has vowed to continue to battle through
the pain barrier as the Russian focuses his mind on helping fire Arsenal
towards the Premier League title.
The midfielder, 28, arrived at the Emirates Stadium from Zenit St Petersburg
12 months ago following one of the most protracted transfers of the last
January window.
Although unable to feature in Europe, Arshavin settled quickly and went
on to produce some stunning performances, most notably when grabbing all
four goals in a thrilling draw at Anfield during April.
Arshavin has, though, been given some rough treatment from time to time
as the opposition look to limit his impact.
Despite having spent a few weeks hampered by a foot problem - suffered
in the build up to this season's return to Liverpool, where Arshavin crashed
in a fine winner from the edge of the box - the Russian will continue
to do all he can for the Gunners' cause.
"It has been quite a good first year overall," Arshavin said
in the February edition of the official Arsenal magazine.
"I seem to have settled in straight away and fitted within the team
very well.
"With my knock at the moment, I am trying my best - after each kick
I am feeling pain, but I still train every day.
"I know I have had a few other injuries, although the clash of heads
in the Champions League may have looked nasty, but truthfully it did not
hurt very much.
"Basically it is simple - if I can play, I will.
"Thank God I have not yet had a serious injury in my career and I
hope the situation remains."
Arshavin continued: "I would have liked to be scoring a little more
- and also to be able to do more on the ball.
"But I am happy enough and the most important thing for us is to
be in the title race, which we certainly are."
Because of Arsenal's injury problems throughout the squad, Arshavin has
been deployed in the central striker's role.
However, with the return to fitness of Denmark frontman Nicklas Bendtner,
who had been out for three months after groin surgery, the Russian could
be back in his playmaker role for the visit of Premier League champions
Manchester United on Sunday.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger believes Arshavin is a special talent.
"I am very happy with Arshavin, because in every big game he is influential
and creates the chances," he said.
"When you look at him, he turns up when it is really needed - not
at 4-0, but at 0-0.
"Arshavin is always coming up with something special. He is a player
whom you always rely on in a big game like that.
"He likes the big stage. He can be quiet for 20 minutes, and then
suddenly turn up with something decisive.
"That is what you want from the big players - the big players make
you win the big games."
Wenger feels Arshavin can sometimes suffer from being targeted as an attacking
outlet.
"He is always marked very tight and people do not give him a lot
of room," said the Arsenal manager.
"Everybody who plays against Arshavin says 'make sure you mark him
tight'.
"But even when he is marked tight in some of the so-called less big
games, when you look at the tape afterwards, you always think 'this movement
was good', or 'this pass was great'."
The Russian admits he has been taken aback by the demands of the English
game.
Arshavin said: "I heard every game here would be very difficult,
even when you play against a team in the relegation zone, and that was
different for me - and while I expected physical football, I perhaps did
not predict it to this extent.
"The referees do not whistle when someone just pushes you a little
bit, it is seen as nothing, you must play on.
"Of course that makes the game quicker, but for me it is not always
great."
Football365.com,
30/01/10
|
|
