Arsenal and Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin says he was only ever going to join the Arsenal and never their North London rivals – Tottenham.
Andrei Arshavin, who along with Spanish midfielder Xavi was the player of the tournament in Euro 2008, is hoping to help Russia qualify from Group Four for South Africa in 2010. Currently Russia trail Germany by four points – although the Russian’s have a game in hand. Finland are in third place with seven points – five points behind Russia.
Arshavin was quoted as saying “I don’t want to make comparisons between these two teams (Spurs and Arsenal) but clearly it was preordained from above that I should end up at Arsenal. It was a hard day (transfer deadline day) – physically and mentally. I was on the go from 8am, and I only managed to grab something to eat at 10pm. I only believed the deal was done at the moment I put my signature on the contract. That was about 16.57 or 16.58 London time (minutes before the window closed).”
