Arshavin deal should be done Saturday or never

By Randy Osae

The latest from the unending ‘Andrei Arshavin to Arsenal’ saga is that the selling club, Zenit St Petersburg have cautioned “enough is enough” on Arsenal’s cagey negotiations.

The Russian giants have issued a final conditional statement that Arsenal better wrap up transfer agreements or Arshavin might not be heading to north London after all.

Logically, this is the scurry patience of a club willing to sell a player who no longer intends to serve them. But Zenit’s reluctance over accepting Arsenal’s subsequent offers of less-than £18 million is what could derail this sensational transfer.

The club’s general director said: “If Arsenal don’t accept our terms, then Arshavin will not be sold to them,”

“In any case this will be resolved by Saturday evening.”

Indeed, the middle-man of the fuss, Andrei Arshavin, has conceded that despite fancying a move to Arsenal, only his current club hold his fate of moving away during this transfer window.

Arshavin said: “I can only wait and see how the situation resolves itself. I know about Arsenal’s offer and the £12+3million plan, and I consider that according to the current state of the market to be more than adequate.

“But clearly I am not the one who will make the decision.”