Whilst one Arsenal legend, Ray Parlour, pointed the finger of blame at Andrey Arshavin for the defeat to Manchester United last Sunday, another saw things differently.
Nigel Winterburn, who spent 13 years with Arsenal, believes the Russian international was not fully at fault for Danny Welbeck’s winner and has sympathy for the 30-year-old.
The 48-year-old former left-back told the Sovetskiy Sport newspaper:
‘Arshavin has been smashed to pieces because he didn’t tackle Valencia. But he is only partly to blame.
‘Andrey is not an experienced defender and it is not so easy to stop guys like Valencia. But he still keeps going to the end and tried his best. Where were the defenders? The blame must be shared by all the defensive players, and Andrey too.’
Despite defending Arshavin partly, Winterburn did agree with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville when he spoke about the Russian’s apparent disinterest:
‘I agree with Gary Neville to some extent. If he doesn’t get pleasure from playing in England then of course it would be better to go to Wenger and say, ‘Arsene, I want to go home’. But I think it’s just Andrey is suffering bad form. He can return to his previous level, he just needs to make an effort.’
I totally agree with Winterburn’s comments.
After Welbeck scored the winner I immediately said to my dad and brother ‘what the hell are our defenders doing?’ Ok, Arshavin shouldn’t have been turned so easily by Valencia and he could have made more of an effort, but who was marking the goal scorer?
I’m not defending Arshavin’s recent performances because they have been under par to say the very least – this coming from a Gooner who rates the player – but it seems every time he plays for us he gets stick, if not from the fans then its from former Arsenal players and pundits, which will lower his morale further.
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Finally, a true gunner fan who understands how the game is played. How can Arshavin be at fault for the killer goal? He tracked back didn’t he? Where were our 2 central defenders? Arshavin, don’t lose heart! The people who criticise you probably never played in defence.
wenger is to blame for managing arsenal like is personal project.
1. He let gilberto go bcos of flamini
2. He let toure go bcos of djourou.
3. He plays asharvin an the wings bcos of ramsey.
Wenger should look at himself. Wenger is a great manager but he needs to put square pegs in square holes and call a spade a spade. His fantasy should be eleminated for the real thing then maybe just maybe we will see the real arsenal we believe wenger can produce.
He tried his full effort to tracked back and stop Valencia, but in that position it was LEFT BACK area but was him. Arshavin just wantt to help but he is not originally a defensive player, if you put RVP in that position at that time for sure he also cannot done much!!! The fact most of us forget to ask where was the LEFT BACK marking, his positioning. We simply blame Arshavin because we he is lazy, fat guy bla bla bla…think further
Did Chamberlain manage to stop crosses for 73 minutes he played???
All is wenger faut bcos arshavin is cm or ss bt wenger forced him to be a winger and what is ramsey doing in d cm?!
I dont know why people are defending this guy!! He is one of the highest played players and since his 2nd season, has done nothing!! This season he has tried to adapt b/c he isnt playing as much! This guy hasnt looked interested for time. Gunners need to wake up and stop excusing crap!! Its like the guys who keep saying walcott is world class…when??? The guy os fast and thats about it. Wenger’s man management is questionable.
Yea, enough defending and excuse making for Arshavin, hes had numerous chances to prove himself, failing every time, payed way to much, played well for half a season when he first came but has never fitted into the team or been a team player. Hes complete crap and the only thing hes good at doing for us is loosing the ball immediately, the booing he received against Man U has long been building and just because we’ve been loosing lately, he has been lucky that we have still scrapped through allot of games despite no contribution what so ever for him.
I for one would not be sad if i never saw him play in an Arsenal shirt again, the Ox should cover for Gerviniho and Walcott and even if there are more injuries it would be better to take a risk with another youth player who can at least gain experience or Benayoun who actually tries (not that id give him a contract). If Wenger doesnt get rid of him in the summer along with the rest of the waste I will join the anti Wenger brigade.
If you dont know that Arshavin is complete crap you havnt been watching Arsenal for the last 2 years.