Arshavin admits fitness struggle

Andrey Arshavin admits he is stilll finding his feet in English football having been surprised by its physical demands.

Gunners new boy finds adjustment period demanding

Andrey Arshavin admits he is still finding his feet in English football having been surprised by the physical demands of the Premier League. The Russian playmaker has made two starts for Arsene Wenger's side since moving to the Emirates on the final day of the January transfer window. Arshavin played the full 90 minutes at the weekend but is well aware he needs to improve his fitness levels before he can show his true capabilities. "Even before the end of the first half I felt as if I had spat my lungs out," said Arshavin. "It was a hard match for me. In the second half my legs simply refused to serve me.

Tough task

"I am not physically strong enough yet to play the whole of the match. "But I think with each coming game I play it will be easier in this sense." While the £15million man has shown glimpses of his talent in disappointing 0-0 draws with Sunderland and Fulham respectively, Arshavin admits he is not yet fully in tune with his new team-mates. "We do not fully understand each other yet," he added. "I need to get used to the new kind of football and to my new team-mates before I begin playing my usual way."