Arsenal Achieve the Impossible; Agree Arshavin Fee.

By: chris | January 26th, 2009

It’s always different from the outside looking in, but from these waters it certainly looked as though the Andrei Arshavin saga wouldn’t be concluded until one party wound up dead and the crew from CSI: would be called in to investigate. But as the slogan goes, Impossible Is Nothing, and Arsenal have managed to reach a deal with Zenit for the baby-faced whiner/assassin.

Not that this means Nike should start printing up the kits, though.

The official Zenit website released a statement saying…

“The fundamental understanding over the transfer of the player is achieved between the clubs,” read the statement. “At the moment the basic obstacle in realisation of the transaction is Andrei Arshavin’s personal requirements.”

Which is where the problem lies. The last time Arsenal tried to tap up Andrei even his personal chatterbox/Chief of Chiefly Hyperbole/agent Denis Somethingorother (agents/spawns of Satan don’t need real names) criticized his positively stupifying wage demands (he says “financial appetite”, I say tomahto). Yes, Andrei still wants out of Zenit, but whether or not he’s come back down to earth is another matter entirely.

No indication as to the price, but it damn sure won’t be couch cushion money. The figure of £12m has been floating around; however, considering…

i. Zenit wanted €30m in the summer.
ii. Zenit are saying Arsenal have offered the ‘real market value of the player’.
iii. The pound ain’t exactly enjoying its finest moment. (£1 = €1.06; thus £12m = €12.73m & €30m = £28.3m.)

…you can rest assured it will be higher, and likely by a substantial margin.

But Arsenal have broken down a massive wall in the Free Andrei! movement in the form of Zenit’s fee demands, and all that’s left now is for Arsene & Co. to negotiate Andrei’s weekly food & shelter packet. Suppose that means it’s all still left to do, really.

	Soccer Forums	Team/International Results

Category: English Premier League, World Football

Tags: Andrei Arshavin, Arsenal, English Premier League, Russia, transfers, World Football, Zenit St. Petersburg

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Comments  

• dp |  January 26th, 2009 at 6:41 pm

  
  
  

  Apparently, it’s not just that Arshavin wants higher wages; it’s that he wants compensation for the fact that he will make up the difference in valuation between Zenit and Arsenal to the tune of 3 million pounds or so, and Arsenal don’t want to compensate him. I think it’ll get done, but for more on it here’s a link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jan/26/andrei-arshavin-arsenal-zenit-st-petersburg

  Posted from United States

  

• j |  January 26th, 2009 at 6:46 pm

  
  
  

  Zenit announced the deal and he’ll be in London to finalize his contract with Arsenal shortly.

  http://russia.theoffside.com/team-news/andrei-arshavin-to-join-arsensal-zenit-agrees-to-fee.html

  Posted from Germany

  

• Al |  January 26th, 2009 at 7:13 pm

  
  
  

  Finally, his “dream move” comes true. Or wait, which was his dream move?

  Posted from United States

  

• Kelly |  January 26th, 2009 at 7:40 pm

  
  
  

  hope he does come and do well at Arsenal

  Posted from United States

  

• travis |  January 26th, 2009 at 7:43 pm

  
  
  

  I still won’t believe it until it’s done. Then you can read it on the Arsenal offside.

  Posted from United States

  

• mele419 |  January 26th, 2009 at 8:07 pm

  
  
  

  This is disappointing.

  Posted from United States

  

• usfooty |  January 26th, 2009 at 9:02 pm

  
  
  

  come to usa, we have the best footy structure in the world, the best national team, as well as the best player in the world, Landon Donovan. We can kick out Beckham and DP Arshavin’s (shaven) arse

  Posted from United States

  

• john serona |  January 26th, 2009 at 9:31 pm

  
  
  

  usfooty im sorry but i believe you are wrong about the 3 facts you appointed in your comment… the US certainly does not have the best structure considering theyve only had a league for 30 years or so. Pretty far from having the best national team considering they’ve never won the world cup. And finally, Donovan really? that made me laugh i could name 20 players alot better than him

  Posted from United States

  

• Gooners |  January 26th, 2009 at 10:04 pm

  
  
  

  Frankly, I don’t fancy over this move.

  Such fellow loves $$ more than football. He is just using our Gooners as stepping stones to his dream move. I bet that he will leave for Barca or Real in less than 2 seasons.

  Welcome abroad, cunning Arshavin.

  Posted from Singapore

  

• Anthony |  January 26th, 2009 at 11:49 pm

  
  
  

  Didn’t Spurs offer £17m in the summer, surely Zenit has ended up losing a few million quid over him?

  Posted from United States

  

• Ole |  January 27th, 2009 at 12:38 am

  
  
  

  surely Zenit has ended up losing a few million quid but hey,who wants to go to spu*s? Wannabes.

  Posted from Malaysia

  

• Ebrahim |  January 27th, 2009 at 5:55 am

  
  
  

  Well, anyone BUT Ebouseless! Lets pray his impact is just as instant as Nasri!

  Posted from United States

  

• Gopal |  January 27th, 2009 at 6:16 am

  
  
  

  Arsenal continued with this Saga for Nasri too… i hope they eventually sign Arshavin…

  Tks,
  Gopal

  Check the Eternal Arsenal Excuse on my Blog: – http://soccerzlife.wordpress.com/

  Posted from Canada

  

• Foreverzidane |  January 28th, 2009 at 4:01 pm

  
  
  

  I’m sure he’ll be more of a threat than ANTI-Bayor!
  Swear to God I fell sleep during the first half against Everton.
  What a superb set up by Diaby.

  Posted from United States

  

Comments are closed