Non-playing Arshavin out of Russia plans

WARSAW, POLAND – JUNE 16: Andrey Arshavin of Russia in action during the UEFA EURO 2012 group A match between Greece and Russia at The National Stadium on June 16, 2012 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Moscow, Sep 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Arsenal‘s Andrei Arshavin will stay out of the Russia team he used to captain unless he starts playing regular club football, Russia coach Fabio Capello said.

Arshavin was dropped from the team for Russia’s 2-0 win over Northern Ireland Friday and was jeered when he came on from the bench in his last international appearance, a 1-1 friendly draw against Ivory Coast last month.

“You need to play games,” Capello said when asked whether Arshavin had an international future.

Arshavin has been out of the Arsenal first team for almost a year and a proposed transfer move to his old club Zenit St. Petersburg is yet to materialise.

Arshavin has scored 17 times in 74 games for Russia and last captained the team at Euro 2012 in June.

Israel are Russia’s next opponents, hosting Capello’s team Tuesday.