The Dream is Over
It's a great shame Andrei Arshavin has signed for Arsenal. I was hoping for a follow-up to his special guest blog but apparently his fitness level is of far more importance and alas, he doesn't have the time to spare.
He is however still able to provide us with a little off-the-cuff entertainment. Interviewed yesterday he managed to drop this wonderful straight-faced gem:
Interviewer: "Have you spoken to Roman Pavlyuchenko about your move yet?"
Arshavin: "No."
Interviewer: "Why not?"
Arshavin: "He's not a friend of mine."
He then followed this quip with something about inviting Pav round to his hotel room now that he's living in London. Don't go Pav. Its blatantly a trap.
So, anyway, as a concluding ode to the little man, let's enjoy his finest moments as complied by DoctorSpur (over at GG.co.uk).
8th July 2008:
"My dream is Barça," Arshavin said. "But to say that isn't new. The whole world knows that I have dreamed forever about going to Barça. Messi, Arshavin, Henry? Messi is very, very good and to play with him must be a marvel, and the same goes for Henry. What more can I say? I would love it. Barça is a team that can win 7-0 or lose 4-3 because their style of football is going on the attack. As long as I remember it's been like that and all that fills me with enthusiasm. "For that reason I've followed Barça closely for a long time."
8th August 2008:
“My desire to leave is still as strong, but there is nothing more to do now other than hope for a miracle."
http://www.clubcall.com/tottenham-hotspur/arshavin-wants-spurs-move-769102.html
"I also like the way Tottenham play, so I agreed in principle to join. A short while later a representative from Spurs arrived to discuss my personal terms and contract. The discussion didn’t take long and we agreed on everything quickly."
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1533111.ece
18th November 2008:
"Playing for Bayern is a dream."
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/arshavin-reveals-bayern-dream-1023609.html
10th December 2008:
"I can confirm that officials from Zenit have begun preliminary negotiations with Real Madrid about my transfer."
3rd February 2009:
“I am happy to be [here] at Arsenal. It was my dream. “[I chose Arsenal] because I like their style and I like Arsene Wenger as a coach.”
http://www.thesportreview.com/tsr/2009/02/arshavin-arsenal-move-is-dream-come-true/
Arshavin, finally achieving his dream at the 5th time of asking.
Thank God we only have players who genuinely want to wear the shirt. You know, like Robbie Keane. And Pascal Chimbonda. And Jermain Defoe.
Cough.