by Zain Shahid

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Arshavin set to wear the no.13 shirt at Arsenal

One of longest running and most annoying tranfer sagas has apparently come to an end! Arshavin is now a Gunner! The only thing left is for the Premier League officials to sign the paperwork to make the deal official. All Gooners can now breathe a sigh of relief. According to different sources the Russian has cost £10m or £12m. So it is nearly half the price of £20m that Zenit had initially demanded. To add to that the forward has taken a £20,000 pay cut, came to London on deadline day on his private jet and the trip cost him £25,000 and paid Zenit half of his signing on fee. Just shows how much the guy wanted to join Arsenal (or leave Zenit!). So at £10m or £12m, the playmaker should be a bargain considering how much quality he has.

Zenit St. Petersburg’s manager Dick Advocaat believes Arsenal have made a wonderful bargain deal which will do wonders for them. He said:

“Arsenal don’t realise just how good a player Andrei Arshavin is. He’ll be a sensation in England. He’s worth more than they have paid.”

Every manager knows his player best so if that’s what Advocaat thinks of Arshavin, then we will take his opinion!

Former Arsenal player Paul Merson agrees with Advocaat and says:

“He will fit in to Arsenal perfectly. He’s a good little player, he’s got a great football brain and would slot straight into the pass-and-move way. He might not be what Arsenal need specifically, but they just need players right now. He is a top player.”

After all that happened in January with first the reluctance of Zenit to lower the asking price, then the reluctance of Wenger to even pay the lowered price and then when all seemed to be going right Arshavin’s wage demands seemed to put the deal in scrutiny but all’s well that ends well! We have got the deal and that’s all that matters! May Arshavin forge a successful career at Arsenal and lead Arsenal to new heights; and most of all, win trophies!

Correction: According to Arshavin, he will be wearing the number 23 shirt and not number 13. So never mind the picture!