Andrei Arsharvin a career in England unfulfilled

31-year-old winger Andrei Arsharvin will be leaving London in the next couple of weeks as his contract expires at Arsenal. He signed for the Gunners in 2009 for a reported £15 million from Zenit St Petersburg after some hugely impressive displays for both Zenit and on the national stage with Russia. Arsene Wenger pinpointed the player as one of the best attacking players in European football, however he couldn’t recreate the form he showed in Russia in England for Arsenal.

During his time in North London Arsharvin has made a total of 105 appearances scoring 23 goals the majority of those coming in his first three seasons with the club. In the last two years he has only been able to net three times in 38 appearances which frustrated Wenger and led to him being dropped from the first team.

One issue that the media has always been quick to raise with the Russian is that he lacks the commitment. However upon announcing that the player will leave Arsene Wenger fiercely defended the player stating he has always given 100% in everything he has done and that he is an example to everybody.

When he first arrived in England he looked to have settled in very quickly with a terrific display against Liverpool at Anfield scoring all four of Arsenals goals in a 4-4 draw just three months after joining the club. However despite this impressive performance he has never really been able to produce the same quality again on a consistent basis. He became a very frustrating player he could show unbelievable flashes of brilliance but then in the same moment make a poor decision and give the ball away.

There has been talk about the winger returning to his homeland Russia and there has even been some talk about him hanging up his boots in retirement. Whatever’s next for the little Russian everyone will surely be wishing him well but there will always be the feeling of ‘what if’ hanging over his head about his time in England, what if he could have reproduced the form he showed in Russia at Arsenal? He will always be looked upon as talent not quite fulfilled in England and that is a shame for both the player and the club who paid £15 million to secure him.

What are your favourite memories of Arsharvin’s time in the Premiership?

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Very objective post, great! I have to agree that he never showed form from EURO 08.