Arshavin agent hopeful over move

[Elano]

Andrei Arshavin's agent has said he is "very confident" the player's move from Zenit St Petersburg will be confirmed by the Premier League on Tuesday.

A Zenit spokesman had said that the deal had fallen through and the 27-year-old was returning to the club.

But agent Dennis Lachter told BBC Sport the deal had been agreed by all parties and only needs to be made official by the Premier League.

"It was completed in extra-time but we must wait for confirmation," he said.

Lachter added that "in 16 years this has been the most difficult transfer ever" without wanting to go into details of the sticking points in the deal.

The clubs had been in discussions over the move for the duration of the transfer window, but the 1700 GMT deadline passed without any official word on the player's future.

It was understood that Arsenal had agreed a fee with Zenit, during which time Arshavin, one of the stars of Euro 2008, accepted personal terms and passed a medical.

The Associated Press and Reuters then claimed the deal collapsed when the clubs could not reach agreement.

Reports said the move broke down over the size of the fee and compensation Zenit would be paid for allowing Arshavin to break his contract.

But later on Monday AP quoted Zenit spokesman Alexei Petrov as saying: "The deal was signed for three-and-a-half years and the financial details will be disclosed tomorrow."

The Agence France Presse agency claimed Arshavin has joined Arsenal "until June 2012 for £12m".

Arshavin travelled to London on Sunday in order to complete the formalities of the move before the transfer deadline.

However, after being pictured in Hertfordshire, key figures in the deal said that Arshavin had left for an airport and the move was off, amidst suggestions that the two clubs differed in their valuation of the player.

BBC Radio 5 Live's Mike Sewell said that another sticking point was Zenit's demands for half of Arshavin's signing-on fee.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has remained hopeful throughout that he would land his man.

"We are always confident, we try our best, if we can find an agreement, we will do it," he said earlier.

"These kind of stories sometimes develop in the last minute on the final day of the transfer window. It is very difficult to predict."

However, he also suggested that the signing of Arshavin, who became a talisman and central figure for Zenit and his country, at Euro 2008, would not alter his faith in the young team at his disposal.

"There is always a danger that people always want a wonder man, but I do not believe in that.

"I believe we have to keep going, and accept that the expectation level on him would be very high."

It is rumoured that Arshavin will take the number 13 shirt previously held by Alexander Hleb, who was sold to Barcelona last summer.


*shavin was so desperate to complete his move that he hired a private jet to fly him from Russia to London on Sunday night. * 

[Elano]

Andrei Arshavin remains of hopeful of finalising his protracted move to Arsenal, after revealing that he has been given the No 23 shirt by Arsene Wenger.

The 27-year-old playmaker’s move from Zenit St Peterburg hung in the balance last night after the window had officially closed last night. Conflicting reports emerged as to whether a deal had been struck while the clubs and player conducted protracted negotiations, but just before 7pm, Wenger, the Arsenal manager, finally expressed confidence that the deal had been done only for Zenit to claim the deal had collapsed.

However, it is understood an agreement between all parties over fees and personal terms were reached in time for the necessary paperwork to be submitted to the Premier League. Arshavin is believed to have signed until 2012 for a fee of £12 million with a wage packet of about £70,000 per week. Arsenal will pay Zenit an initial £10 million, rising to £12 million depending on results.

Arsenal have yet to confirm the deal, however, Arshavin has revealed on his personal website, that details of the completed deal should be announced later today.

Asked if he was now an Arsenal player, the Russian international said: "I think so. The negotiations came to a close and there will be details [on Tuesday]. Now I can say only one thing - that if I play for Arsenal, it will be at number 23."

Unlike the Gunners, whose club policy is to never directly comment on transfer speculation, Zenit have chosen to publicly reveal details of the negotiations.

In another development, an article on the club's official website now maintains the deal has been completed, although they have credited a Russian news agency for the story.

"Zenit, Arsenal and Andrei Arshavin have concluded talks in London," the report on www.fc-zenit.ru reads. "An FC Zenit source has informed Fontanka that the talks were successful, and Andrei Arshavin is moving to Arsenal. The signed documents have already been sent to the English Football Association [Premier League].

"A source close to the discussions has told Fontanka that the terms of the deal are financially suitable to Zenit. The St Petersburg club will receive £16.5m - £15m for the transfer of the player and £1.5m compensation for breaking a long-term contract.

"In addition there is a further 500,000 Euros [£450,000] in bonuses which Arshavin has not yet received which will not be paid and instead make up part of the transfer sum.

"The overall sum of the transfer is around US Dollars 24m [£16.9m]."

Arshavin, 27, sprang to prominence at Euro 2008, starring for Russia with a string of outstanding performances as Guus Hiddink’s team reached the semi-finals. On the back of those displays he was linked with summer moves to a host of leading European clubs, but stayed in St Petersburg.

While many argued that a commanding central defender and a defensive midfield player were greater needs for Arsenal, Wenger believed that Arshavin’s creative spark would prove vital as his side attempt to win a trophy for the first time since 2005.

[bez]

The transfer window is closed. The transfer shouldnt be allowed to go through. They have had plenty of time.

[es-jay]

deal has been confirmed.


Arshavin completes Arsenal move


Arshavin starred for Russia with some fine displays during Euro 2008

Arsenal have finally completed the transfer of Andrei Arshavin from Zenit St Petersburg for an undisclosed fee.

The 27-year-old Russia international agreed a "long-term" deal with the Gunners on Monday.

Final confirmation was held up while the Premier League assessed whether all the necessary paperwork had been completed before the transfer deadline.

The two clubs had earlier disagreed over the fee and over Arshavin's own personal terms.

Arshavin travelled to London on Monday for a medical to complete the deal and, it is understood, will now return to Russia to complete some personal arrangements before starting work at his new club.

He could make his debut in Sunday's north London derby at Tottenham but given that the Russian domestic season finished in November the player is more likely to be allowed some time to build up full match fitness.

He will be unable to figure in the Gunners' Champions League campaign as he has already featured for Zenit in the competition.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/7831046.stm

[da_notorious_mack]

 

[Elano]

This is just a GOOD player,i don't know why there's so much buzz around him....

[Elano]

Arsenal bend the rules to land Andrei Arshavin

Arsenal finally ended their 228-day quest to land Andrei Arshavin for £15 million on Tuesday, but the Russian’s registration 23 hours after the transfer deadline will anger some of the club’s Premier League rivals, notably Aston Villa, who are duelling with Arsenal for the fourth Champions League place.

The delay was officially blamed by the Premier League and Football Association on the snow that stopped employees getting to work on Monday to process the paperwork.

What will concern Villa and other clubs is the observation by one official that there was a “slight issue" with the forms completed by Arsenal. Zenit St Petersburg, Arshavin’s club, are understood not to have got their forms to the FA on time.

“Everything was done before the deadline," said the Arsenal chief executive, Ivan Gazidis.

“This is the nature of deadlines in general, that people will wait till the last minute before they are prepared to make concessions [on the deal]. Sometimes you just have to let the clock run down."

Before flying back to Russia last night to arrange his work permit, Arshavin said: “I trained with the team in the morning but I am not match-fit." During a quick tour of the Emirates, Arsenal’s new No 23 added: “I am so happy to be joining Arsenal.

"They are one of the leading clubs in the world, with a group of fantastic young players and a great manager. I am looking forward to making the Arsenal supporters happy and helping this great club win trophies."

Arshavin, who has signed a 4½-year deal, has clearly been looking to move for some time. “He has taken private English lessons for a couple of years now two days a week," added Gazidis.

“That he has been doing that to me indicates someone who is very focused and driven and intelligent and his English is excellent. It has clearly been an ambition of his to play in the Premier League."

Voicing his “delight", Arsene Wenger said: “He is a player I have admired for a long time. He is a versatile player with great experience, an exciting impact player."

Having played for Zenit in this season’s Champions League, Arshavin is ineligible for Arsenal in the competition.