Andrei Arshavin – the Next Token Russian at Chelsea

Looks like Andrei Arshavin is being lined up as the new Golden Boy at Chelsea. It’s no secret that the Russian facepuller/playmaker – twice brilliant and once rubbish at Euro 2008 – wants out of Zenit St Petersburg and into one of the big leagues.

The expected destination was Barcelona, but seems Roman Abramovih has swooped in at the last minute, and now Arshavin is on his way to London to discuss personal terms. And by personal terms I mean £££.

From The Guardian:

The club’s owner Roman Abramovich is believed to have personally intervened to ensure the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker, who shone at Euro 2008, will opt for a move to London over Barcelona or Real Madrid and is preparing a £12m bid.

An unnamed source at Arshavin’s club was quoted as saying: “Chelsea have been in contact, a deal agreed and Arshavin will fly to London to discuss personal terms.”

Certainly, a Chelsea containing Deco and Arshavin would be great to watch. But you’ve got to question the reasons why Abramovich wants the Zenit captain.

Rumour has it Roman told Big Phil Scolari that he wants at least one Russian in his squad (because really, it’s his squad) and Arshavin is the obvious choice.

Makes sense. Remember when Abramovich first took over at Chelsea? Most of the signings made a certain amount of sense (Glen Johnson was 50/50). But one signing stood out: Alexi Smertin, a token Russian to keep Abramovich happy.

With Smertin’s departure in 2006, Andriy Shevchenko arrived for silly money. OK, so Sheva’s Ukrainian not Russian. But he was clearly Abramovich’s pet signing, and the striker’s received an undue amount of indulgence given his performances.

And now Andrei Arshavin is the obvious choice as the owner’s new pet. Not only is he Russian, but Euro 2008 has made him the easily most famous Russian footballer out there. So to Abramovich he’s a bit like a shiny new yacht that he simply must add to his collection.

Not sure that’s the best way to conduct transfer policy, and not sure that a move to Chelsea in such circumstances is in Arshavin’s best interests. Weren’t Barcelona his dream club?

I also suspect that Euro 2008 has elevated Andrei Arshavin’s reputation a little higher than is realistic. But who knows? Maybe this will work out. Maybe Arshavin is the one player capable of keeping Abramovich, Scolari and Chelsea fans happy all at the same time.

But if I was Abramovich, the Russian I’d be signing is CSKA Moscow left back Yuri Zhirkov. Can you imagine a Chelsea team with José Bosingwa and Zhirkov as attacking fullbacks? Would be like Cafu and Bobby Carlos. Even better, maybe Roman could do a straight swap and send Ashely Cole to CSKA Moscow in exchange. Now there’s a transfer to make everyone happy.

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Category: English Premier League, World Football