Arsenal vs. Swansea: Andrei Arshavin Makes Another Case to Play in Central Role

First came the deft assist to Robin van Persie for what would be the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers on the last day of 2011 (didn't it feel fantastic to know that Joey Barton had been defeated?).

Then, on Sunday, Andrei Arshavin sent yet another perfectly-weighted pass in behind the opposing defense—this time versus Swansea City—for the Dutchman, who found the back of the net after a well-timed hesitation move wrong-footed his defender and allowed a pocket of space for the in-form No. 10 to exploit.

The left-winger has provided source material for a number of Arsenal's goals this season, most often finished by van Persie, whose 18 goals are miles ahead of the next challenger (Gervinho, who has four).

It was the Ivorian who supplied the Dutchman with a number of excellent assists earlier in the season from the left, and it appears that Arshavin has taken it upon himself to pick up that mantle. Both the Russian's assists to van Persie came while Arshavin was playing on the left.

Arshavin has always exhibited a tendency to drift into the center of play for Arsenal—a reverse image of what Thierry Henry used to do for club and country, when the languid striker would drift to the left from his starting central position.

Like Henry in his prime, Arshavin is often at his best when attacking defenders using twisting runs and the dribbling of an impresario to get into dangerous positions and either shoot (most often) or pass (we'll say...less often).

Whatever your feelings about him—and you have every right to be infuriated given his recent form—Arshavin has nonetheless shown the ability to be effective in specific junctures, with Sunday just the latest example.

What separates Arshavin, who has consistently petitioned to be played in a more central position akin to the attacking midfield role he inhabits when on duty with the Russian national team, from say Theo Walcott (who has made his own wishes known to be played as a central striker this season) is that the former looks far more comfortable when his wish is granted (although most often he appears to take matters into his own hands).

There is no transition period for Arshavin playing in the middle. He's occupied an attacking midfield position for most of his career. That differs from Walcott transferring to striker. The Englishman has never looked comfortable with his back to goal.

Arshavin has never shown the desire requisite for an EPL winger. He doesn't track back with any consistency, and he isn't blessed with the searing pace of Walcott.

What the little Russian does have an overwhelming amount of, however, is superior technical ability. His first touches often enter the realm of the sublime.

Whether it be instantaneous control in bringing down a searching long ball, or setting up a one-two with a brilliant first touch, Arshavin opens up avenues that otherwise might have remained locked.

It's the sort of ingenuity often seen from Arsenal midfielders, who have become enamored with that spontaneous chipped ball over the defense—Alex Song against Swansea the latest in a long line to attempt it.

It's that type of uncommon skill in attack that first made Arshavin a household name back in Euro 2008, when he helped lead Russia to a surprise semifinal run.

That glittering form has been on show far too infrequently with Arsenal, where Arshavin has struggled to justify the £15 million price tag the normally frugal Arsene Wenger ponied up to acquire his services during the 2009 winter transfer window (my, it's been three years already? Time does fly).

When on form, Arshavin is a whirling dervish of a player, exhibiting some of the most exquisite skill seen from an attacker. But he does have a maddening tendency to drift, and that occurs most often when he is on the wing.

Thus, a question: If Wenger does insist on keeping the Russian in a wider role, why not bring him on as a substitute? Two reasons justify my thinking:

1. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is rising fast, and has, in my opinion, earned the right to a starting position on one of the wings, particularly now that Gervinho—who usually starts at left wing—is away with the Cote d'Ivoire at the African Cup of Nations until the end of the month.
2. Arshavin doesn't need much time to make an impact on match proceedings. Many of his greatest moments at Arsenal were bits of instantaneous brilliance (remember that winner at Anfield in December 2009), which seemed to arise out of nothing.

His assist to Henry was the latest example of that kind of rapid-fire productivity.

It took one pass for Arshavin to make an indelible imprint on the Swansea match. By no means was he even decent after that contribution, and he was rightly removed in favor of Thierry Henry.

But it must be duly noted that Arshavin's assist came while he was in a central position. He clearly has designs on drifting into the middle during matches, as we saw Samir Nasri do last season when he was stationed at left wing.

The Frenchman was far more effective when he came into the middle, and Wenger allowed the disruption of his tactical schematics because, simply put, Nasri produced when he broke them.

I feel Arshavin can do the same. But will he get the chance?

That remains to be seen. And with rumors of a move away from Ashburton Grove (potentially back to Russia) growing in force, the proverbial window of opportunity may be closing in unison with its "transfer" equivalent.