Arsenal Transfer News: Lack of End Product Leaves Arshavin on Verge of Exit

A mere months after he signed for the Gunners from Zenit St. Petersburg, Andrei Arshavin scored four goals in front of a packed Anfield crowd. Arsenal fans rightfully thought that was just the beginning, a prelude of greater things to come from the diminutive Russian, whose scintillating performances back in the Euro 2008 had caught the eye of many people including Arsene Wenger.                       

There sure has been some fantastic moments for the Russian in the Arsenal jersey, including the screamer at his favorite hunting ground, Anfield. There was the long-range beauty against United. And let's not forget the goal that gave Arsenal their greatest win at the Emirates against the mighty Barcelona. There were a few others no doubt, but they have been far too few and sporadic for a player of his talent and potential. Arsenal fans saw a legend in Arshavin, but all they have gotten was an inconsistent genius that has started to fade away.

His statistics are impressive and there is no two ways about it. With 10 goals and 17 assists, Arshavin’s stats are bettered by very few on the current team. Yet the Russian captain has lacked the consistency of players like Jack Wilshere and Robin van Persie, and hence he is on the receiving end of some indifference from the Arsenal faithful.

Arshavin’s first season instantly made him a fan favorite, as he captivated them with his four-goal haul against then-title challengers, Liverpool, in one of the best individual performances by an Arsenal player in a long while.

When he joined Arsenal in the winter of 2009, he became Wenger’s most expensive signing to date, and he justified his price tag in his first season. His trickery, flair and creativity rejuvenated the Gunners during a period when they were truly amidst real trouble, as Aston Villa had control of the fourth spot. The Gunners seemed destined for a UEFA Cup spot, but with Arshavin in the squad, they turned it around and snatched the fourth spot with consummate ease, ensuring that Arsenal would play in Europe’s premier cup competition once again.

Ahead of his first full season, Arsenal fans were expecting much more of the same from the Russian. The seeds had been sown for Arshavin to explode in his second season, but since his dazzling introduction into English football, the midfielder has merely flickered.

Last season he managed 12 goals and seven assists, which is not a bad tally. But throughout the season, he was inconsistent and never really took off. He remain fairly subdued, failing to make a profound impact on Arsenal’s season, as the Gunners once again went trophy-less. It was a timid season when compared to the expectations that the supporters had of him. His third season in England wasn’t all that different from his second, as we continued to witness the inconsistent genius score a beauty one minute, then go missing for the entire match.

During the first match of the 2010-11 season, Arshavin had a poor game against Liverpool, at Anfield, no less. The very same ground that feared him, the very same pitch where he announced his arrival in English football, now saw him struggle.

In the next two matches, he scored a goal each, as he put in fairly good performances against Blackburn and Blackpool. Over his next few matches he did not perform badly, but the spark that characterized him during his first season was lost.

The Russian himself said that he had lost some of his spark and flair in an attempt to become more consistent and make himself a hit in the physically tough and challenging, EPL. Suffice it to say, Arshavin still remains highly inconsistent, often fading away or just not turning it up at all.

This season there have been several matches when Arshavin has been virtually non-existent, as he has struggled to make an impact of any sorts. We witnessed it against Bolton, Chelsea, Manchester United and several other times. But the nadir of his season undoubtedly came against Leeds United at the Emirates when his own fans themselves, the Emirates crowd, booed the Russian after a truly shocking and pathetic performance against the side from the Championship. His indifferent attitude and lazy play left the Gunners on the verge of exit from the FA Cup.

While he has bounced back with some good performances, most notably against Barcelona and Everton, one still cannot help but feel that for all his talent and potential, he could be so much better.

The 10 goals and 17 assists he has this season, might indicate a picture of great consistency and solidity, but sadly that can hardly be said about the Russian. Arshavin has been inconsistent throughout the season, only dazzling in patches.

Arshavin is clearly a supremely gifted player, and that is why his current achievements and performances are disappointing. It's not that his performances are too bad, but coming from a player of Arshavin’s quality, it can be a letdown.

Arshavin needs to add consistency into his game. What makes players like Wilshere and van Persie so respected and feared, is their consistency, the knowledge among fans that they can expect these two players to deliver the goods week in and week out.

Sadly the same cannot be said about Arshavin. For a man who does have the skill in the same breath of Messi and Ronaldo, or at least in a level near them, his performances have been nowhere close.

For the magic and vision he possesses, his frustrating attitude and style can be irritating and disappointing. His tendency to not chase down balls, and his inclination to give up all too easily, is definitely not the attitude we want to see in an Arsenal player.

An interesting note is Arshavin’s stats. Despite being poor, he has been so essential for the Gunners at times that one can only wonder his value and importance if he could deliver the goods consistently.

His style and performances have been effective, but in the end you always want a player who is consistent, putting in solid shifts every match. This is where we see Arshavin fall down the pecking order at Arsenal, with players like Nasri and Walcott having already usurped the Russian in the battle for a starting spot.

All this has seen him head closer and closer to the exit with the transfer window looming large above us. He may have expressed a desire to stay at Arsenal, and he may say that Wenger views him as an integral part of his plans, but Arshavin might be off of this club this summer. There have been several rumours linking him to a move back home to Russia, and considering that playing time will be even less next season, he maybe tempted to move to greener pastures.

With Arshavin growing no younger and with several other players out there, Wenger also might be tempted to part with his most expensive signing.

When I think of Arshavin, it fills me with regret. Here was a player with tonnes of talent and potential, and yet he has failed to achieve the kind of success you felt he just had to achieve.

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