06:00
The plane has landed at Heathrow, picking up a copy of the newspaper today, we can see that Andrei Arshavin is in fact in London. He flew over on Saturday and booked into a hotel near our training ground.
07:00
On the BBC web site (accessed via my phone), news is rife that Andrei Arshavin is talking to us, in talks with us as we’ve agreed a fee. A lot of this is down to text messages into 606, I’m not sure if it’s correct.
08:00
On the Sky Sports WAP site, and it appears that Andrei Arshavin came over to London by himself (i.e. without Zenit, but probably with an entourage) in case a deal was done. Apparently a fee has not been agreed and as soon as it is, Andrei Arshavin will have a medical.
09:00
Made it home. News is breaking that we have agreed a fee with Zenit but not with the player. As a result, the player is going home on his jet – said to be “very disappointed”. Apparently
10:00
News is now that Andrei Arshavin cannot go anywhere because his jet is snowed in and there is no take offs or landings in London at the moment. Rumours that the Arshavin deal could be hijacked by Man City are believed to be false. He’s not had any contact with the Eastlands outfit yet and such a deal would be unlikely.
11:00
More news has broken. Apparently the deadlock in the Arshavin deal is because we have not yet agreed a fee with Zenit St. Petersburg – something that Arsene has repeated several times over the last week or so. Apparently, they want £15m in cash and another £2.5m to break Arshavin’s contract. However, we have offered £12m in cash and a further £3m depending on appearances.
12:00
News reports from Sky suggest that Andrei will stay in London until the end of the day. Apparently the FA are attempting to extend the deadline past 5pm. That could be very useful in our quest to sign the Russian playmaker. Despite Arsene saying that we have alternative transfers in mind as well as stating that the priority was a defensive midfielder, it looks like Arshavin is the only possible “IN” today.
13:00
According to Setanta Sports News, we are still in talks with Zenit St. Petersburg trying to keep the Arshavin deal alive – only 4 hours left until the deadline – this one will go to the wire. Apparently Arshavin was at Highbury House in the last hour with his agent Dennis Latcher. He has now left. Questions are whether he is off to have a medical or off home.
On a separate note, the Arsenal versus Cardiff game tomorrow has been postponed.
14:00
Well, it’s all happening in the transfer window, except with us. Santa Cruz to Man City? Looks doubtful. Keane back to Sp*rs, looks likely. Quaresma to Sp*rs too? Jenas to Inter? Jo to Everton?
On the Arshavin story, Arsene has said:
“We don’t need an instant saviour. I don’t believe in them. There’s always a danger because people always want a wonder man. But I believe we have to keep going, and accept that the expectation level on him would be very high if he joins us. But if he doesn’t join us I am not more pessimistic. We have as well not to go overboard with the crisis we face. Let’s judge our team at the end of the season.”
Talking about the “crisis we face” makes me finally see that Arsene does realise there is a massive problem, a massive points difference. And somehow, it becomes a realisation that the club may not have the money. Less than 3 hours to go…
15:00
Odds at William Hill cut in favour of Arshavin joining Arsenal. Arsenal lead the odds at 4-7 with Zenit at 5-4 and Man City at 16 -1. The transfer deadline has been extended to any clubs that have a problem because of the snow and only if a deal is agreed in principle.
Apparently, the deal is “very close” to happening – reports on Sky Sports ticker.
Further news confirms that, the fee with the club has been agreed and personal terms with the player have also been agreed – the sticking point is the money that Arshavin owes Zenit, and Zenit’s requirement to have that paid back. Didn’t we know this at 11am?
16:00
Okay, lots of rumours flying in, predominantly on the BBC text site – apparently Arshavin is driving up to Manchester to have a medical with City. I really doubt that’s true. It kind of contradicts everything that’s going on and of course, there is no way he will make it in one hour!
The news according to Sky Sports News is that we have agreed a fee and agreed terms and the deal is still very close to completion. Their site reads:
The Gunners and Zenit are now close to a deal but the Russians are still working with Arshavin to resolve a final payment.
Interesting…
BBC Radio 5 report:
Arsenal and Zenit have agreed a fee and I understand personal terms have also been agreed and Andrei Arshavin is having a medical this afternoon. But there is a but, as Zenit want half of his signing-on fee for signing for Arsenal. That is now the sticking point.
Interesting…
And even more interesting…
At last Arsenal and Zenit St Petersburg have finally agreed a fee for the transfer of Andrei Arshavin to the Gunners. The deal is still to be finalised though with Arshavin and the Russians still to sort out a final payment. It is understood Arshavin will wear the number 13 shirt.
True?
17:00
Andrei Arshavin passes medical.
The papers from Arsenal and Zenit have arrived at the FA. The FA have confirmed they have received it so it is nearly a done deal.
17:30
A Zenit’s spokesperson has confirmed that the deal is off. Apparently Arsenal and Zenit have failed to agree the fee. Even though the FA has received the paper work.
On USA today:
Alexei Petrov told The Associated Press that the deal broke down over the size of the transfer fee and the amount of compensation Zenit would be paid for allowing Arshavin to break his four-year contract.
“The deal didn’t happen. Arshavin is coming back to Zenit,” Petrov said, but he added that a deal could be revived in the summer.
But – was that quote from earlier in the day, and has it been resolved now?
18:00
Breaking news from Setanta in regards to the Arshavin transfer…
It seems that the Arshavin deal is still alive, this just in from Zenit official Maxim Mitrofanov: “The clubs have a mutual desire to complete the transaction. Negotiations are continuing.”
It wouldn’t be the Arshavin deal if there wasn’t a few twists and turns left. Surely Arsenal haven’t let this slip through their fingers?
Too many twists and turns!
18:15
The FA have given Arsenal and Zenit a deadline of 7pm to confirm the “structure of the deal”.
20:15
Okay, a bit of a break since the last update. As you all know, Arsene has been talking and has talked positively about the deal. News coming in is that:
- Arsenal versus Zenit have agreed a fee.
- Arsenal have agreed terms with Arshavin.
- Zenit and Arshavin have settled their payments.
- Arshavin has passed a medical.
- The FA received the registration request at 4.30pm.
- The remaining paperwork was submitted prior to 7pm.
- If all the paperwork is in order, then the FA will confirm that the transfer is complete.
- The confirmation may come tomorrow due to the large size of applicants and additionally, the sheer size of paperwork related to the Arshavin deal.
More waiting…]]>
