Hleb coy on future

Gunners ace keeping quiet

By Graeme Bailey   Last updated: 13th May 2008

Hleb Alexander Arsenal v Birmingham

Hleb: Big fan of Wenger

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Alexander Hleb has refused to be drawn on his future at Arsenal.

The Belarus midfielder is being strongly linked with a move away from Emirates Stadium with Internazionale understood to be at the front of the queue to sign him.

His agent has suggested that he will be departing North London - but Hleb insists he does not want to fan the flames.

"As is said, there is a lot of speculation about me," Hleb told German website transfermarkt.

"And I will not be making statements on this and stirring it up further."

Hleb did admit that Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has played a huge part in his career and he 'owes him a lot'.

"Wenger is a coach who you can learn a great deal from," he said.

"He is not loud, he is a thinking type.

"I owe a lot to him."

Pleased

Hleb is pleased with how his season has gone although he is still quite critical of himself.

"It was not bad for me personally over the last season and I have got quite a lot of praise - but I am very tough on myself, there is always something to improve.

"If you think you have satisfied everything - that is your first mistake.

"But I do not make public my errors - my strengths and weaknesses are for other to judge."

On his personal life Hleb admits he is not that keen on the draw of a big city like London.

"Certainly I am not into parties or clubs," he said.

"I am not a big city man, I need my retreat - that is why I am often in Germany. Stuttgart is my second home, my friends are there and it is where I feel most comfortable."

Meanwhile, Hleb insists that Belarus could yet mount a serious bid to qualify for a major tournament.

"The team has potential, there is promising talent and coach Bernd Strange.

"But I see an opportunity for us - the best example is Andrei Shevchenko, many said that he would never play in a big tournament with Ukraine - and suddenly, he and his team are at the World Cup in 2006."