Advocaat Praises Arshavin as Sensation

Andrei Arshavin - Wenger and Advocaat On Arshavin

According to Arsene Wenger Andrei Arshavin can get Arsenal back into the top four, which sounds a bit optimistic to me, not because of Arshavin, but because Arsenal need to improve a lot and either Chelsea or Aston Villa or Liverpool need to make a lot of mistakes.

Arshavin will probably make his debut at home against Sunderland tomorrow, although as he is not totally fit it is unlikely he will play the whole 90 minutes.

Wengers assessment is that Arshavin "can integrate well our combination game, he can move very well, he is very mobile so that is something we work on as well ... He is a clever passer of the ball and that is something you need in every big team to open teams up."

But he added "You have to give everybody who comes in time to adapt, to adjust. I know him quite well on his vision, his passing ability, his quick brain. That is something which is very important in the modern game."

"He has personality, he has a strong character. The handicap he has at the moment is that he is not completely fit physically, but all the rest should be quite quick.

"Anyway, we will take the needed time. We will not put him under pressure, if he needs a bit longer he takes a bit longer. At the moment we have many players in that area injured like Fabregas, Rosicky, Walcott, so there is a position to take as a creative midfielder."

Arsenal are unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions, but are drawing a lot of games.

"We are on a good run, are in good shape and the close future looks very good, if we can win the games. With the players coming back, they can have a positive effect on the squad and we can finish the season in a very strong way."

According to Dick Advocaat in this recent video interview, Arshavin will be a sensation in England