Arsenal FC: Zenit St. Petersburg Open Door for Arshavin, Will Wenger Sell Him?

The little Russian playmaker has endured a strange season at the Emirates this campaign. He's appeared over 48 times in all competitions and scored 10 goals—six in the Premier League, along with 11 assists in the PL. By his, and Arsenal fans', standards that isn't good enough. 

His confidence seems to have dropped considerably, making him lose the ball far more, make more wayward passes, mistime runs and produce shocking efforts on goal. It is a far cry from his scintillating four goal performance against Liverpool in 2009.

His best moment by far this season has to be the Gunners second goal against Barcelona at the Emirates, in the first leg of the Champions League last 16. A magnificent counter attack created by Wilshere, Fabregas and Nasri was converted in emphatic style by the Russian, who calmly side-footed a swerving first time ball to the bottom right corner. The stadium exploded with noise.

Arshavin, it seemed, had finally made his mark on the season.

But his performances in the games following dropped again. His introduction as a 62nd minute substitute in the home game against Everton was promising, however. With Arsenal trailing by a goal to nil, Arshavin produced a fine volley to level the score, which spurred the Gunners on to score a winner six minutes later via Koscielny's head. But as before, his performances dropped again in the next few games.

With yet another trophy-less season from the Gunners, transfer rumours are rife. Most with the theme of selling Bendtner, Clichy, Denilson, Almunia, Rosicky and Arshavin.

Zenit St Petersburg's sporting director Igor Korneev told Talksport: "Zenit's doors are always open for Andrey. If his situation at Arsenal does not improve and he's not comfortable in London, we can study this issue in time for next season."

But would his sale be good or bad for the Gunners?

By the end of the season he will be 30 years old. He offers much-needed experience to a squad unfamiliar with winning trophies. He also possesses a cool head in decisive moments. The two goals aforementioned show he has the ability to turn up when needed—something which cannot be said for the likes of Bendtner, who missed a sitter at the Nou Camp late on which could have clinched Arsenal's progression to the quarterfinal.

On the other hand, the money from his sale can go toward either purchasing a commanding presence in the back four, or simply replacing Arshavin with a similar player. Eden Hazard, perhaps?

Wenger will have a very important decision to make come the end of the season.