What went wrong for Andrei Arshavin at Arsenal?

Andrei Arshavin in action against the Czech Republic.

Most Arsenal fans are resigned by the fact that 31 year old, Andrei Arshavin has slim chances of being a Gunner for the 2012/2013 season. For the first half of last season, the magical Russian barely played up to the required standard or displayed the required commitment for Arsenal, even leading up to the point where he got booed by a minority of Arsenal fans, and was soon shipped off to boyhood club, Zenit St. Petersburg on loan in February.

However, after Russia’s 4-1 demolition of the Czech Republic in EURO 2012, there is a sense of “what could have been” for Arsenal fans as Arshavin orchestrated the midfield, having a great game, finishing with 2 assists. The talent was always there with Arshavin but just what went wrong for Arsene Wenger’s record purchase?

Many are with the view that the 2009/2010 season was what led to Arshavin’s demise. Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner, and Eduardo – Arsenal’s striking options at the time – were all injured at one point which led to Arshavin being deployed as a lone striker, a position he wasn’t comfortable with, for a few games which seem to have played a psychological impact on the Russian. While he did do alright in unfamiliar territory, he was unhappy in that role and hasn’t looked the same since.

Another theory is that Arsene Wenger hasn’t played Arshavin in his preferred position – as an attacking midfielder through the center or as a support striker in which Arshavin flourished with while at Zenit and Russia leading up to his transfer to Arsenal in 2009. While one can argue that Arshavin would be more effective in the middle than on the flanks, why weren’t people complaining when Arshavin first joined Arsenal? There was no way Cesc Fabregas would be removed from that position at the time and Arshavin, deployed on the left hand side, directly contributed (goals and assists) to 14 goals in his first 13 Arsenal games – no problems there?

Even in Russia’s 4-1 win yesterday, Arshavin played on the left hand side where he played such a key role against the Czech Republic. He did rotate alternatively in the middle and on the right hand side but for majority of the game, he was involved on the left hand side.

Courtesy of ESPN Soccernet.

The above heat map displays Arshavin’s movement and frequent touches in the game against the Czech Republic – the more red an area is, the more Arshavin was involved there and as one can clearly see, it was on the left. His position clearly didn’t affect his creativity as Arshavin set up 7 shots for Russia against the Czechs (which led to two goals) – he never set up more than 4 in a league game for Arsenal last season.

“He worked very hard and played very well. He is a very important player for us. I am very positive about him.” – Russia coach, Dick Advocaat.

It seems to be more and more of a confidence or motivational issue for Arshavin – at Arsenal currently, he is second choice to Gervinho and Theo Walcott while at Zenit, he doesn’t have the pressure of impatient fans behind his back which mentally does a lot to a player’s confidence level. He is also valued by his Russian teammates both for Zenit (where he is a club legend) and the Russian national team while it’s fair to say at Arsenal, he isn’t valued as highly.

“I haven’t yet thought about [my future]. Everything will be decided after the European Championships. Of course the result and the quality of play there could affect my destiny.” – Andrei Arshavin.

Behind Gervinho and Walcott in the pecking order, as well as potentially new signing, Lukas Podolski who could play on the wings, as a 31 year old, Arshavin wouldn’t want to remain a squad player at Arsenal forever. With Zenit and reportedly, Lazio interested in the Russian’s services on a permanent basis, Arshavin’s performances at EURO 2012 will all but increase his market value, benefiting Arsenal. Wenger does rate the Russian though, recently stating in January that he loved Arshavin as a man and as a player while Arshavin has also not ruled out the possibility of a return to Arsenal – but all in all, it still looks unlikely.

Andrei Arshavin.

Arshavin could have been an Arsenal legend – maybe if he joined Arsenal a few years earlier, things would have panned out differently but one thing is for sure; Arshavin is inconsistently incredible but incredibly inconsistent.