Definitely a decent squad member if he can get fit over pre-season and sort out his attitude. But we'll only keep him if we don't find a buyer.

Decent squad member? Arshavin was our most talented player when on form.
He just lost the hunger playing for us, as he would be shifted out to the wings.

Yeah, I know. It looks like he is leaving ;( I think he deserves one more chance to prove himself and should be given a chance in this role.

Playing Arshavin in the second striker/CAM/no 10 role would suit him better than on the wing. The only problem is do we change the whole system to fit him in?

At the moment we have 3 CM's out of Song, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, etc if fit and 3 up front. In order to fit Arshavin in we need to either drop a CM position which would mean the 2 remaining would need to be more defensive, which in turn would mean the two wide players would need to take more defensive responsibility as well, or move to a 4-4-2 with Arshavin and RVP as a front 2.

I cant see either happening, so Arshavin will be a victim of team tactics as he doesnt really fit in withe the current tactics of 4-5-1/4-3-3 being favoured by a lot of the PL teams at the moment.

Dubbed, he is 30/31 after all. Maybe starting every game in the PL would be too much for him so I think he could be a very valuable member of the squad. Anyway, I don't think it matters because Zenit want to sign him.

This is indeed strange, though.
We were playing 4-2-3-1 when Cesc was still in the team, yet jumped from that almost immediately to 4-3-3 without even attempting to play Arshavin in the CAM position.

"Dubbed, he is 30/31 after all. Maybe starting every game in the PL would be too much for him so I think he could be a very valuable member of the squad. Anyway, I don't think it matters because Zenit want to sign him."

Sadly. You're most probably right. Such a shame. Waste of talent.

"This is indeed strange, though.
We were playing 4-2-3-1 when Cesc was still in the team, yet jumped from that almost immediately to 4-3-3 without even attempting to play Arshavin in the CAM position."

Yeah. Very strange indeed.

Hes close to signing for Zenit apparently

I wrote this earlier so here are my thoughts again:

http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewArticle/124209

"This is indeed strange, though.
We were playing 4-2-3-1 when Cesc was still in the team, yet jumped from that almost immediately to 4-3-3 without even attempting to play Arshavin in the CAM position."
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Why, we were playing with Song and Wilshere as Dm's with licence to attack and the other covered. (Dont get confused though as a lot of fans have. Wilshere is not a DM normally but is good enough at the role to play there and still influene the game). When Wilshere got injured we did not have another player who could cover the same role of DM and playmaker. Arteta is a deep lying playmaker but does not have the defensive ability of a DM, hence the change in tactics.

Im really beginning to wonder if some of you really understand the tactical/team building side of much at all.

^Im really beginning to wonder if some of you really understand the tactical/team building side of much at all

I missed a whole word

playing Arshavin in the middle would just make him more of a liability, given that he's pants.

comment by I am Gooner ! (U5613)

Why, we were playing with Song and Wilshere as Dm's with licence to attack and the other covered. (Dont get confused though as a lot of fans have. Wilshere is not a DM normally but is good enough at the role to play there and still influene the game). When Wilshere got injured we did not have another player who could cover the same role of DM and playmaker. Arteta is a deep lying playmaker but does not have the defensive ability of a DM, hence the change in tactics.

Im really beginning to wonder if some of you really understand the tactical/team building side of much at all.
==============================
Sorry but your point is completely negated by the fact that Arteta is covering so much for Song forward forays in this 4-3-3 system, and to good effect.
Often, Arteta is the deepest-lying midfielder shielding the defence when Song bombs forward. He would not be played this way if he was lacking defensively as you suggest.

You should not be making such statements if there are flaws in your own logic.

" Arteta is a deep lying playmaker but does not have the defensive ability of a DM, hence the change in tactics."

WTF?

" Arteta is a deep lying playmaker but does not have the defensive ability of a DM, hence the change in tactics."

WTF?
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I stand by my comment.

Why do you think we have struggled against teams that we should beat? Its because Arteta has had to do the DM role too much in those games because Song was too far up the pitch. HAve you actually watched the games or do you think you know what happened from a fewminutes highlights on MPTD?

^MOTD

maybe I should proof read my cvomments before hitting submit, but thats too much like work.