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Arsene Wenger has promised Arsenal will defy the credit
crunch to spend big in the January transfer window.
The Gunners boss has set his sights on Zenit St
Petersburg playmaker Andrei Arshavin and another central midfielder
to boost his squad, as revealed in Mirror Sport last
week.
Arshavin's agent Dennis Lachter said last night: "We know that
Arsene Wenger likes the look of Arshavin. But I like the look of
Angelina Jolie and it doesn't always mean you get what you
want.
"Arsenal were interested in signing him last summer and they
still are, so we will wait and see what happens. There has been a
lot of interest in him this time as well from England, Spain and
Italy." Wenger claims Arsenal have been gripped by the "economic
crisis" and warned they will not pay big money for their signings
in January even though fans are crying out for new faces.
But Wenger is prepared to spend £12m on Russian midfielder
Arshavin, who is being hawked around Europe with Juventus also
interested. Arsenal are also keen on St Etienne's Blaise Matuidi
and Udinese hardman Gokhan Inler, who both fit Wenger's criteria of
being young holding midfielders.
Wenger said: "I cannot spend money I do not have. The economic
crisis is here and we are feeling it at the club.
"Be a bit patient. From the moment you give a name, you reduce
by 50 per cent your chances of signing him.
"But I need a creative midfielder and another midfielder because
we are short on numbers and experience."
Arsenal looked at Arshavin last summer following his starring
role in Euro 2008 but were put off by Zenit's £20m price tag.