Zenit St Petersburg is an odd place to be at the moment After a major cash injection, the Russian side managed to pull off outrageous summer transfer deals for ex-Porto ace, Hulk and talented Belgium Axel Witsel.
All of a sudden highly-paid footballers were playing alongside footballers on fairly average contracts and it seems to have engineered something of a culture shock. It’s little wonder that Russian International skipper, Igor Denisov struck out. The 28-year-old went on strike, claiming that he felt the decision to pay these two new stars so much was disrespectful to the side who had won the Russian League the season previous.
The player told the Press: “I could understand it if we signed Lionel Messi or Andres Iniesta. Are Hulk and Witsel so much better than others to earn a salary that is three times more?”
This may have just been sour grapes, but Denisov seems to have come back round. He has now returned to the side, claiming: “I was wrong, I was driven by my emotions.”
Is it possible that he’s currently driven by the desire for first team football and that’s the reason he’s performed a rather bizarre U-turn? I’d say so. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Denisov moved clubs at some stage over the next year.
This brings me to the Daily Star’s claim that Arsenal are in the market for Denisov and – get this – are looking to use Andrey Arshavin as a bartering piece.
Now this, to me, would be a smart move for the Gunners – if they can pull it off. Arshavin has blown his opportunity at the Gunners. He looks to have lost all his motivation and doesn’t have what it takes to push for a first team place. Given that his Arsenal contract will be up next summer, it’s probably the right time for Arsene Wenger to try and send him on.
If they get Denisov in return, they’ve done a fantastic job. The Gunners need a player who can bring a bit of physicality to their midfield – a player who can hold the opposition off and allow the likes of Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere the time and space to work their magic. They need somebody to win headers in the midfield and start forcing the opposition off the ball.
Denisov can offer all this and more. If Arsene Wenger can pull off this particular trick, it may well help Arsenal to reposition themselves as a top side once more.
What’s your take? Would Denisov add some ‘bite’ to Arsenal’s fragile midfield?
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Good move but it will take time for him
to adapt to EPL. Beter than Ramsey
anywere. I would go for him if I were
in Wenger shoes
did u say he is better than ramsey? That is an understatement. Is ramsey a player? He is much more more more more more more more more better than ramsey.