I think it’s fair to say that Arsenal fan patience with Russian International Andrei Arshavin has finally run out. His completely ineffectual cameo against City on Sunday could well prove to be the kiss of death for his Premier League career. All the talent in the world means naught if you don’t have the fitness levels to back it up in combination with the will and mentality to see out a game.
It’s telling that the last two meaningful Arsenal shots on Joe Hart’s goal came from Thomas Vermaelen, a man with a genuine never-say-die attitude. All I can remember from Arshavin is a dirt poor cross, which had the delivery been better would likely have resulted in a goal.
With Gervinho off to the African Cup of Nations and Chu-Young Park not offering a real alternative, I think it’s fair to say that Arsenal ought to bring somebody else in.
Some may suggest promoting the likes of Tomas Rosicky, Yossi Benayoun or Oxlade-Chamberlain, but they are all either too old or too raw. What’s really needed to replace Arshavin is a player as influential as the diminutive Russian was when he first arrived at the club.
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The usual names will be tossed out: Lukas Podolski (yes please), Eden Hazard (we can dream) and Goetze (who can play on the wings as well as in the centre of midfield) but I think Wenger should also give heavy considerations to Xherdan Shaqiri.
Shaqiri has come on leaps and bounds during his time at FC Basel and his rise to prominence culminated in him providing the two assists that saw Man United tumble out the Champions League. At just 5”7 he certainly wouldn’t add any height to this Arsenal side, yet neither did Arshavin. What’s needed is his direct running, dynamism and his eye for a pass.
Indeed, he strikes me as the perfect antidote to Arshavin. What impresses about Shaqiri at just 20-years-old is his hunger and work-rate. He’s like a grass-powered dynamo, fizzing across the pitch, eager to make things happen. It’s all a far cry from Arshavin’s tepid, effort-free approach to the game.
Of course, in all likelihood Wenger won’t buy this kind of player during the January transfer window. Maybe he’ll instead seek to address the Gunner’s full-back problem. Of course that wont stop fans dreaming of the possibilities and surely Shaqiri is one of the very best?
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Shaqiri is a player i know will light up the premier league i hope Arsene is seriously looking into securing him in january because if we don’t soon someone else will.
I beg to differ, the player Arsenal should get all costs is Hazard or Neymar.
Shaqiri definitely looks like a player who Arsenal should consider as a replacement for Arshavin. But, with Basel moving on in the Champions League, it is highly doubtful that they would be willing to sell him to anyone in January, even at an inflated price, which we all know Wenger will not pay. Maybe he will be available in the summer, but that won’t help now.
I have said previously that Vertonghen should be our first – almost essential buy. Perhaps equally important is signing the most suitable of the score or so strikers, supposedly already packing their bags, anxious to join us. A replacement for AA is way down the list of our needs.Add in a few promising reserves and JW and we`ll have MFs coming out of our ears. Even so, if Pastore, Gotze. Hazard, Reus or Shaqiri came beating our door down,AW might speak to him. That, of course depends on one of them coming cheap.