Why Andrei Arshavin should not go to FC Barcelona
Andrei Arshavin has openly expressed a desire to join Barcelona. While players do this all the time, in this case the Spanish Club has opened negotiations with the player’s current club, clearly showing intent to add the player to their squad.
As an opening salvo, the player’s current employers have agreed to let the player go provided Lionel Messi goes in the opposite direction. The offer also includes a payment of 20 million pounds to be made to Barcelona. While the offer sounds preposterous, there is actually some logic to it. But in spite of the logic, which I will come to later, it will be in Arshavin’s best interests if Barcelona rejects the offer outright and there are no further negotiations.
And here’s why
There is no place for Arshavin in the Barcelona playing eleven. A player of his class and age (at 27 he’s not a youngster exactly), should not be wasting his time getting frustrated on the bench. He will hardly have a role to play for Barcelona. And that is precisely the reason why the club should not be wasting their time chasing him and should concentrate on their other more important transfer targets.
Why there is no place for Arshavin in the Barcelona playing eleven
Arshavin can either play as a playmaker or as a second striker. Provided he joins Barca, he will be denied a chance to play in either role by Lionel Messi (the reason why Zenit’s offer could actually improve his chances of playing), Bojan Krkic, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta. These guys are proven performers at Barcelona and Pep Guardiola would not break a settled combination.
Additionally, Arshavin is at his best when the attack is built around him; like it is at Zenit and the Russian National team. There is no way he will enjoy the same luxury at Barcelona. In a best case scenario, Arshavin will be forced to play out of position or in a role that he is not too comfortable in and therefore there is little chance that Barcelona will be able to fully benefit from his talent.
Arshavin and Barcelona should learn from the past
In their recent history, Barcelona have had an embarrassment of attacking riches. Many wonderful players have borne the brunt of this surplus. The name which comes most easily to mind is that of Juan Roman Riquelme. He never got a decent chance to show his worth at Barcelona but prospered on moving to Villarreal – a club which built their attack around him. Arshavin with his close control is in many ways similar to the Argentinean.
Playing at Barcelona is a privilege but the Russian would be wiser to move to a lesser club. Not only will he get to play regularly, he will also get to play to his strengths.
I still can’t understand how it makes sense to you or anyone when they think of Arshavin equal to 20million euros and add to that “little maradona” lionel messi.The equation doesn’t balance out well for me.
I agree that he would be better off to play at a lower team now.Jump from Russia League to top flight La Liga and that too with a team like Barcelona,way too high an expectation.
Barca are desperate after obtaining no trophies. They might as well take a chance. And Arshavin did look incredibly good in the Euro tourney so give him some credit. It will be interesting to see this all play out…
I dont agree with this post and let me tell you why.
First of all Barca play a 4 3 3 system which Pep has said he will retain. From all the highlights and games I have seen Arshavin play … it does seem like he prefers the left hand side for attacks rather than the right. Barca also prefer their LF to be right footed so he can cut in and shoot on goal.
Now Ronnie is going to leave this summer, we all know that. This will then open up a spot for Arshavin to play regularly in, if he can perform.
Henry does not feel comfortable at the LF and will be moved, while Bojan is more comfortable in the middle as well and will be used as a sub.
Xavi & Ineista are up in the midfield and Arshavin could be used there from time to time but the most important position we have right now is the LF and he will fit in perfectly there.
With Messi on one side & Arshavin on the other, a good number 9 in the middle…it could very well work
p.s. He is already 27, i dont think he would want to move to a lesser club at that age cuz then it will be difficult for him to move to a bigger one
decent point but if ronnie leaves then theres no one else to play on the left forward position which is Arshavins most comfortable position. so there would be a good chance of him playing.
Great point there,Barcafan.
He may well be good for the leftward position which would be vacant after Ronnie moves and Henry has let his intentions known of not favouring the left side after he failed miserably last season.
What doesn’t sink well is how Arshavin is being made to be a bigger player than Messi who is younger,agile and would create more goals than Arshavin can.Is a 27year old player “one tournament shine” really worth 20 million euros and a talented midfielder for the future?I don’t think so.
Many people misunderstand the offer that Zenit did. Zenit is offering 20 mln euro and Arshavin for Messi, that values Messi in 20 mln euro more than Arhsavin, which is logical. Anyway, the offer is just a way of negotiating, as it is very very difficult, if not impossible to make Messi agree to go to play to cold St Petersburg and a lower level league.
arshavin would not waste away on the bench that’s as ridiculous as zenits offer. the established midfield paring u listed saw barca finish third and struggle to create chance, so y would the new coach still to the status quo. With ronnie and deco leaving there is more that enough space for him either on the left or the middle cuz clearly messi will occupy the right. becuz u r and the rest of the world is just hearing of arshavin doesnt mean that he is new to the game
At least seeing him side-by-side with Ronnie would put rumors of him being the “Russian Ronaldinho” to rest.
Realmadrid_Rocks, you are making a total fool out of yourself by posting multiple times about how you can’t understand how the offer makes sense to anyone. It doesn’t make sense to you because you’ve got it completely backwards. Zenit is offering Arshavin + 20 million for Messi, not the other way around!
@Ranndino,I quote the news snippet from a football news website and it reads :
“Zenit know that they would have to sell their prized asset this summer but they have now said that they would only sell Arshavin to Barca if they are paid 20 million euros along with Lionel Messi.”
Does this not sound like its a swap deal?As I have checked further websites I have realised how Zenith is bidding for Messi so I personally didn’t make an error,I read the news as it appeared on the site.
Even then I think its nothing more than a rumour which is bound to die down or falter (as the case may be) because as someone already said how Messi would not be able to adapt or even play in a cold climate that of Russia especially after living in Argentina and then playing in Spain.And to a lower league as compared to the La Liga.
Realmadrid_rocks,
I don’t know what website you are quoting from, but they obviously don’t know what the hell they’re writing about.
Look above, at the article you’re commenting on. It says, “As an opening salvo, the player’s current employers have agreed to let the player go provided Lionel Messi goes in the opposite direction. The offer also includes a payment of 20 million pounds to be made to Barcelona”.
That clearly says that Zenit have offered Arshavin + 20 million for Messi. Since you’re commenting on this article and not one from some unknown site you got the quote from you did make a mistake.
Having said that, I agree, this offer even though it’s not just a rumor (because Zenit actually made it) is laughable. Not only for the reasons you stated, but because Barca will not let go their best player, and arguably one of the very best in the world. This is just posturing by Zenit to see if they can get the maximum amount for Arshavin and get other clubs to start a bidding war.
ХYЙ BAM!!!
I hope he goes to Tottenham or NewCastle or Aston Villa. these are teams which he could help but at the same time have good offensive players, and do not play like plain white rice.. although Everton do still have Andy Johnson, right? Maybe that’s enough? Though i doubt it.. expect 1-0 win all year round ;-]
He would thrive on having skilled team-mates. The only team who could top Fayzulin, Denisov, Pogrebniak, Zyrianov, etc.. is Barca. Zenit’s defense might be fairly terrible but Arshavin’s mates are top-notch at the attack.
thats what i think
if he goes to barca, so be it. but that team might become some kind of Goliath, when i would much rather see him try to take a david, and challenge man U for the title.. or at least kick Liverpool/Arsenal out of that champions league spot!
Why arshavin should not go to Barca:
So he can help Zenit win 2009 Champions League, and embarrass all these idiots haters who say he’s not good enough to play here.. or there… and that the Russian League sucks and that winning the Title or UEFA Cup doesn’t amount to playing in Fulham or West Ham
i dont think he will go to barca.
i have a strange feeling he will go to chelsea n he might not be the only russian going either?????
He is going to chelsea and i believe there will be 90 minutes for him in all games there because malouda is no more there i see no other strong left man there to contest with him, if him really realise a great footballer dreams not barca.
the barca fan guy is right i think this is how the formation wil go up front will be arshavin =LF henry=ST messi=RF xavi=cm iniesta=LM because he has the pace for it and likes to play wide like how he did when ronnie was injured hleb=RM in the back puyol=CB caceres=CB because milito makes to many mistakes and caceres is stronger and faster daniel alves=RWB will be a wing back i think he will work well with hleb and abidaL=LB they will win the primera next season because madrid arent plaing any signings and lets face it furgusons not going to buj.i think barcelona last season didnt lose the primera they gave it to madrid on a silver plater but thats how the formation will be and know for sure arshavin will sign for barca he ahs proved he can play in big games as he did against the neverlands he should his class and barcelona would be fools to let him get away i herd that there getting ready to bid 24 millon pounds for berbatov why ould any body want that slow bum if they can bid 24 mil for berbatov who spurs wont let go they can sure as hell bid 24 for arshain which is the ammount zenit want