Arshavin prays for Gunners move

Russian pleads with club to lower fee

Last updated: 21st January 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Arshavin prays for Gunners move

Arshavin: Praying for move

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Andrei Arshavin has revealed he has been praying Zenit St Petersburg allow him to join Arsenal.

Arsenal have been chasing the Russian international throughout this month's transfer window after Arsene Wenger made the classy playmaker his top target.

However, they have been frustrated in their attempts to agree a fee with Zenit for Arshavin with Arsenal offering £12million and the Uefa Cup holders demanding closer to £18million

Arshavin is desperate to leave Zenit and he has set his heart on a move to Emirates Stadium.

The player's agent has indicated that his client would be willing to buy out his contract at Zenit to secure a move away.

The 27-year-old has called on Zenit to lower their asking price so that he can make the switch to North London.

"My hopes now rest with God. Apart from him, nobody can help me," Arshavin is quoted as saying in The Times.

"I see Arsenal as my team of the future. Everything now depends on Zenit. If they want to sell me, they can do it very quickly.

Intentions

"My intentions to leave the club have not changed since the summer.

"It is obvious that in these times of [financial] crisis, no one will offer such a big amount.

"Zenit have to think realistically. I believe that Arsenal's offer is much closer to my real value in the transfer market at the moment."