Andrei Arshavin: In Need of Cover or Ready to Create?

Arsenal currently sit in fifth place in the Premiership, as they look to regain the momentum which would help them retain their status as a top four side.

With recent results going against them, Arsene Wenger has turned to Andrei Arshavin to help solve the club's tentative and ineffective offense. The Russian looks to be a clever signing and could come into the mix against the team that he wished to sign for six months ago, in Sunday's North London derby.

In terms of Arshavin's style and size, one can ironically draw the comparison of Tottenham's Luka Modric. Through this comparison, one can make the prediction of how he will adapt to the Premier League.

The little Croatian Modric took a while to warm up to football in England, and many would still argue that he rarely makes the impact that he is capable of. Still, it is quite evident that when he does make an impact, there is one team accommodation that Harry Redknapp has to make.

Perhaps Arsene Wenger should take note of this circumstance if he wants to get the best out of his frail but creative Russian signing in the physical presence that troubles many new players to the English League.

Such a circumstance consists of Didier Zokora's roaming and breakup play in the defensive midfield position. This tactical move allows Modric to roam, and force himself into the areas of the pitch that opposing defenders resent. Once in these areas, we start to see why Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has decided to center his entire team around the small but clever playmaker.

While at Zenit St. Petersburg, Arshavin became infamous amongst his opponents for getting into these areas. However; while Tottenham have the luxury of Didier Zokora, Arsene Wenger doesn't seem to have a player who is fit to protect and create space for the frail Russian.

Song and Denilson have been doing decently well for being so young, but adding an extra responsibility to their game could exploit their lack of maturity.

Some Gunners might feel aggrieved that the transfer window has passed and Arsene Wenger still hasn't assessed their lack of a defensive midfielder in their post-Flamini season.

Although it's true that the January transfer window has passed, the Arsenal boss still has the option of pulling a cheeky move for Ghana captain Stephen Appiah. Appiah is currently a free agent who has trained with Spurs for the past month, and although he has been chased by Redknapp for years, the Spurs manager passed up on the chance of signing him due to his wage demands and lack of fitness.

Is Wenger willing to take the chance of signing a player like Appiah who's defensive ability can help bring the best out of Arshavin?

The answer to Arshavin's future in the physical presence of the Premier League is one that some Arsenal fans might be too impatient to wait for. Sitting in fifth place, the squad requires an immediate spark in the absence of Fabregas, and for this reason, Arsene needs to change his stance and address the defensive midfield position in his squad that will help save Arsenal's season.