Wenger's a cunning fox

"Arsene Wenger is a cunning fox. In the morning he says Arshavin will play all the time at his club and during the day he says he doubts the capabilities of Andrei to play three games in a row at the highest level. But this is a tactic to fool the competition. He calls Andrei a Tsar and then tries to deny interest in the player."

- Dennis Lakhter, Zenit St Petersburg official

This must've happened sometime at Zenit St Petersburg:

Dennis Lakhter: Dick, Wenger has a very, very, very cunning plan.

Dick Advocat: Is it as cunning as a fox what used to be professor of cunning at Oxford University, but has moved on, and is now working for the UN at the high commission of international cunning planning?

Dennis Lakhter: Yes, it is.

Dick Advocat: Mm... That's cunning!

I must confess, however, that I haven't seen much of Arshavin. One of the players of the tournament, yes. One of the players regularly shown on SBS, no. All I saw was the rematch of Spain vs Russia(?), and he wasn't particularly effective in that match. But I'm willing to get on the bandwagon and say he'll be a good player for us.

We should buy Arshavin. Awesome player, with a name that's a punning dream.

I remember reading a few days back that the reason Wenger didn't move for Modric was his slight frame. He thought that Modric would be snapped in half by the first English centre-half he meets. And considering our squad of midfield munchkins, it was probably a good thing that Wenger refrained from indulging in another effete, creative playmaker.

Along those lines, you'd think that Arshavin would need someone to protect him, especially if he's another attacking midfielder with a tendency to drift into the middle. Wenger may be a cunning fox with regards to his dealings with the press, but I'm sure there's a fair whack of truth in his comments.

Would Arshavin cut it in the Premier League?

We'll just have to see. One thing good, though - at least he won't whinge in winter that it's too cold. Although, he might pass out with sun stroke during the English "summer".

Ha!