All smiles: But Andrey Arshavin's agent says his
player isn't completely happy at Arsenal.
Andrey Arshavin's agent is claiming that Barcelona and
other top clubs are interested in luring him away from Arsenal, and
that Gunners stars Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie are jealous
of the Russian striker's sudden popularity in London.
Dennis Lachter's comments ahead of Arsenal's Champion's League
semi-final are likely to infuriate Arsene Wenger - but they also
suggest Arshavin has been disparaging about some team mates in his
private talks with his agent.
'It's not only Barcelona,' said Lachter. 'After the
game at Liverpool where Andrey scored four goals several teams told
me they were interested in him.
'But currently he is an Arsenal player. Taking into
consideration the amount of money which was paid for him and
important role he's already acquired at the club, my client is not
going to leave.
Lachter's comments, the Russian midfielder's fast
growing popularity in England is a target of jealousy at
Arsenal.
'Though - to tell the truth - the players of Arsenal are not
easy to deal with. The squad consists almost entirely of
foreigners. The French diaspora rules there.
'Also there are guys - like van Persie and Fabregas - who are
rather jealous about Andrey's fast growing popularity in England.
'But such situation can only add motivation for him to work harder
and improve his football skills.'
Asked by a St Petersburg newspaper if Arshavin had any
specific problems with his team-mates Lachter said: 'No, but he was
a target of jokes.
'Not very smart jokes, I must admit. But that's a football team
for you. Such jokes are the same everywhere - in Russia or
England.'
The agent also made clear that while Arshavin is not quite happy
with his current position on the pitch, he is prepared to play
wherever Arsene Wenger wants to use him.
'To put it mildly he doesn't like playing on the left. But at
the moment Wenger has a problem in that zone. So until they buy a
good left-winger, Andrey is going to play there.
