Post by QPR Report on Feb 4, 2009 7:22:25 GMT
Because if he didn't; and he plays. Then think of all those Championship and relegation decisions that might be affected!
Guardian - Premier LeagueArshavin finally joins Arsenal but controversy continues over deal• Zenit said to have sent forms to FA after transfer deadline
• Arsenal adamant all their paperwork was in on time
Dominic Fifield
Andrei Arshavin's move to Arsenal went ahead after a tense deadline day. Photograph: Neal Simpson/EMPICS Sport/PA Photos
Arsenal have finally concluded the most tortuous transfer of the midwinter window by announcing the signing of the Russia international Andrei Arshavin from Zenit St Petersburg for a club record £15m. But controversy continues to stalk the deal after claims emerged that some of the relevant documents had not been lodged with the Football Association by Monday's 5pm deadline.
It is understood that Zenit did not submit their forms in time and there are also suggestions that there was a slight issue with Arsenal's submissions. The Premier League club insisted all its paperwork was sent to the relevant bodies on time.
Confirmation of the deal came just before 5pm yesterday, almost 24 hours after the closure of the window. That will have prompted raised eyebrows among the other clubs competing at the top of the table, not least because the transfer window had already been extended by two days to clear last weekend, with all parties pointing towards adverse weather conditions in London having prolonged completion.
The Premier League defended its decision to allow the Arshavin transfer to go through. "Substantively the deal was done before the deadline," a spokesman said. "It was lodged with us prior to the transfer window closing and we were satisfied that the deal was done it time."
An FA spokesman said: "We have been liaising with the Premier League and are satisfied that everything is in order."
Arsenal's chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, was adamant that his club's behaviour was impeccable. "Everything was done before the deadline and submitted in time so I don't think there was any deadline issue," he said. "This is the nature of deadlines. People will wait until the last minute before they make concessions. Sometimes you just have to let the clock run down."
Transfers have previously been cleared after the deadline has officially passed. The exchange which took Ashley Cole to Chelsea and William Gallas to Arsenal in 2006 was one such example, and Benjani Muwaruwari's move from Portsmouth to Manchester City went through last February several days after the window closed. The deal was held up after City expressed concerns over a knee injury before a compromise was reached on the fee.
The 27-year-old Arshavin's drawn-out move ended with him signing a 3½-year deal and parading the No23 shirt to fans outside the Emirates Stadium last night. However, it seems doubtful that the playmaker's first taste of Premier League football will come amid the explosive atmosphere of the north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
The delay in concluding his transfer actually maintained the theme after protracted negotiations between the clubs that had dragged throughout January before one last flurry of hectic discussions and brinkmanship on the final day. Indeed there were real concerns that Arshavin could be denied a transfer from the club with whom he has been associated for 20 years even on Monday. Zenit had demanded Arshavin pay back a significant proportion of the "loyalty bonus" he was paid upon signing a four-year contract at the Russian club in 2006, a sum that had been awarded on the understanding the player would complete his contract, with compromise eventually reached on Monday afternoon.
Zenit claimed yesterday that they would receive £15m from Arsenal, and around £1.5m from Arshavin as a part repayment of the bonus. A further payment of €500,000 (£450,000) that had been due to the player in bonuses will not be met, with the Russian club building that money into their valuation of the deal at £16.9m. Arsenal have not disclosed the fee paid, but it has undoubtedly eclipsed the previous record transfer, the £13m paid to Bordeaux for Sylvain Wiltord in August 2000.
The player, who had travelled to London on Sunday evening in the hope that the deal would be completed, will now return to Russia to complete the formalities of applying for a work permit. "We hope that can be done very quickly," said the Arsenal chief executive, Ivan Gazidis. "He fulfils the criteria – we have that confirmed – so I don't think there will be any issues with this. The question is how quickly we can get him. He is flying to St Petersburg this evening so we hope we get him back as quickly as possible. I haven't had a chance to speak to him about fitness levels, Arsène [Wenger] will know better. It is pre-season in Russia so I can't imagine he is at match fitness right now."
Arshavin, who is due back at London Colney before the weekend, did not feature in Zenit's three friendlies on their pre-season training camp in Dubai, and has therefore not played competitive football since November. He conceded last night that he is "not fit" at the moment and may struggle to feature even on the bench at White Hart Lane. Wenger will be anxious to assess the player's fitness conscious that, while Arsenal are unbeaten in 10 league games, they trail fourth-placed Aston Villa by five points and are 10 from Manchester United at the summit.
Wenger's decision to target Arshavin represents a break from his normal policy of buying promising younger players and not paying out a large sum in the mid-season window. But the reality of losing Tomas Rosicky to a hamstring tendon injury – the Czech has been absent for a year and has only just returned to very light training – Cesc Fábregas to knee ligament damage and Theo Walcott to a dislocated shoulder has severely hit the manager's options.
The new arrival has been taking English lessons for two years, with the prospect of working with Wenger convincing him to force through a move to Arsenal. "I like Arsenal's style, I like Arsène Wenger as a coach, and I like some players in this team," Arshavin told Arsenal TV online.
"I think he will fit in well and I think it has clearly been an ambition of his to play in the Premier League," added Gazidis.
Guardian - Premier LeagueArshavin finally joins Arsenal but controversy continues over deal• Zenit said to have sent forms to FA after transfer deadline
• Arsenal adamant all their paperwork was in on time
Dominic Fifield
Andrei Arshavin's move to Arsenal went ahead after a tense deadline day. Photograph: Neal Simpson/EMPICS Sport/PA Photos
Arsenal have finally concluded the most tortuous transfer of the midwinter window by announcing the signing of the Russia international Andrei Arshavin from Zenit St Petersburg for a club record £15m. But controversy continues to stalk the deal after claims emerged that some of the relevant documents had not been lodged with the Football Association by Monday's 5pm deadline.
It is understood that Zenit did not submit their forms in time and there are also suggestions that there was a slight issue with Arsenal's submissions. The Premier League club insisted all its paperwork was sent to the relevant bodies on time.
Confirmation of the deal came just before 5pm yesterday, almost 24 hours after the closure of the window. That will have prompted raised eyebrows among the other clubs competing at the top of the table, not least because the transfer window had already been extended by two days to clear last weekend, with all parties pointing towards adverse weather conditions in London having prolonged completion.
The Premier League defended its decision to allow the Arshavin transfer to go through. "Substantively the deal was done before the deadline," a spokesman said. "It was lodged with us prior to the transfer window closing and we were satisfied that the deal was done it time."
An FA spokesman said: "We have been liaising with the Premier League and are satisfied that everything is in order."
Arsenal's chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, was adamant that his club's behaviour was impeccable. "Everything was done before the deadline and submitted in time so I don't think there was any deadline issue," he said. "This is the nature of deadlines. People will wait until the last minute before they make concessions. Sometimes you just have to let the clock run down."
Transfers have previously been cleared after the deadline has officially passed. The exchange which took Ashley Cole to Chelsea and William Gallas to Arsenal in 2006 was one such example, and Benjani Muwaruwari's move from Portsmouth to Manchester City went through last February several days after the window closed. The deal was held up after City expressed concerns over a knee injury before a compromise was reached on the fee.
The 27-year-old Arshavin's drawn-out move ended with him signing a 3½-year deal and parading the No23 shirt to fans outside the Emirates Stadium last night. However, it seems doubtful that the playmaker's first taste of Premier League football will come amid the explosive atmosphere of the north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
The delay in concluding his transfer actually maintained the theme after protracted negotiations between the clubs that had dragged throughout January before one last flurry of hectic discussions and brinkmanship on the final day. Indeed there were real concerns that Arshavin could be denied a transfer from the club with whom he has been associated for 20 years even on Monday. Zenit had demanded Arshavin pay back a significant proportion of the "loyalty bonus" he was paid upon signing a four-year contract at the Russian club in 2006, a sum that had been awarded on the understanding the player would complete his contract, with compromise eventually reached on Monday afternoon.
Zenit claimed yesterday that they would receive £15m from Arsenal, and around £1.5m from Arshavin as a part repayment of the bonus. A further payment of €500,000 (£450,000) that had been due to the player in bonuses will not be met, with the Russian club building that money into their valuation of the deal at £16.9m. Arsenal have not disclosed the fee paid, but it has undoubtedly eclipsed the previous record transfer, the £13m paid to Bordeaux for Sylvain Wiltord in August 2000.
The player, who had travelled to London on Sunday evening in the hope that the deal would be completed, will now return to Russia to complete the formalities of applying for a work permit. "We hope that can be done very quickly," said the Arsenal chief executive, Ivan Gazidis. "He fulfils the criteria – we have that confirmed – so I don't think there will be any issues with this. The question is how quickly we can get him. He is flying to St Petersburg this evening so we hope we get him back as quickly as possible. I haven't had a chance to speak to him about fitness levels, Arsène [Wenger] will know better. It is pre-season in Russia so I can't imagine he is at match fitness right now."
Arshavin, who is due back at London Colney before the weekend, did not feature in Zenit's three friendlies on their pre-season training camp in Dubai, and has therefore not played competitive football since November. He conceded last night that he is "not fit" at the moment and may struggle to feature even on the bench at White Hart Lane. Wenger will be anxious to assess the player's fitness conscious that, while Arsenal are unbeaten in 10 league games, they trail fourth-placed Aston Villa by five points and are 10 from Manchester United at the summit.
Wenger's decision to target Arshavin represents a break from his normal policy of buying promising younger players and not paying out a large sum in the mid-season window. But the reality of losing Tomas Rosicky to a hamstring tendon injury – the Czech has been absent for a year and has only just returned to very light training – Cesc Fábregas to knee ligament damage and Theo Walcott to a dislocated shoulder has severely hit the manager's options.
The new arrival has been taking English lessons for two years, with the prospect of working with Wenger convincing him to force through a move to Arsenal. "I like Arsenal's style, I like Arsène Wenger as a coach, and I like some players in this team," Arshavin told Arsenal TV online.
"I think he will fit in well and I think it has clearly been an ambition of his to play in the Premier League," added Gazidis.