Andrei Arshavin - Farewell diminutive Russian

Sadly, the good times on the field were not to stay for long. The brilliance of Arshavin faded after his second full season at Emirates. Once an enthralling and devastating forward now cut out a frustrated, lazy and an uncommitted figure on the pitch. The defenders who used to tremble at the thoughts of facing Arshavin would now be relaxed if he had the ball. Russia failing to qualify for World Cup 2010, unexpected exit from Euro 2012, criticism from fans, everything mounted up as a pressure and weighed Arshavin and his performance down.

Arshavin, who had all the potential to become one of Arsenal’s great and a Gunner Legend, lost the plot somewhere in his journey and ended up a wasted hero, an excess baggage to the club. His shipping off to Zenit St. Petersburg failed to re-ignite his career. A loan move to Reading last season was turned down by him stating he doesn’t want to play for a relegation threatened team. Reports towards the end of the season suggesting Arshavin considering retirement just confirmed to the football world that it was the end of the road for him. Even if Arshavin joins another club and gets playing time, he’ll never be the same old ‘Diminutive Russian’ again.

Having said all this, I will admit that even though Arshavin failed to achieve the heights he could have and practically lived a life of anonymity for this past season, I am going to miss him at Arsenal. I missed him last season too. I would have preferred Arshavin playing ahead of Gervinho any given day. There was a time, when I believed that anything can happen when Arshavin is on the pitch, that he would pull the trigger, fire one in and give Arsenal that goal any minute.

Arshavin arrived at Emirates during the season I started following the fate and fortunes of Arsenal Football Club. His arrival, his skillset, his pace, his 4 goals at Anfield, the sheer energy flowing through him, made me believe all the more in Arsenal. I always knew, next time Arsenal lifts a trophy, this guy will be the one majorly responsible for that success. Well, that was not to happen.

Sadly, his decline was so steep, he wasn’t even around in the first squad in his last season with Arsenal. With his departure from the club, it’s becomes a wish unfulfilled for me. A wish to see Arshavin achieve much more for Arsenal than he actually did. A wish to see Arshavin hang up his boots at Arsenal. I can only bid him a farewell and hope he finds quality playing time to bow out respectfully from the game. Oh! What I would give to hear commentators scream out their lungs for Arshavin like Andy Gray once did -

“ARSHAVIN! I don’t care if you’ve got three Pepe Reina’s in that goal, you’re not saving that!”

Thank you Arshavin for all the good times and memories.