Andrei Arshavin Portsmouth Penalty

Andrei Arshavin - Portsmouth Penalty or Not?

Arsene Wenger showed just how much he believes in Andrei Arshavin’s talent and ability by naming him captain for the match on Saturday. Arsenal had a fairly comfortable match and won 3-0, their 21st game unbeaten in the Premier League, they are now guaranteed to finish in the top four. Most people thought that Arshavin put in another man of the match performance, but he himself picked Denilson as his man of the match.

Goalkeeper David James had a decidedly bad day at the office when he inexplicably let a Nicklas Bendtner header slide through his hands into the goal when he seemed easier to hang on to it than to drop it.

The main talking point of the game revolved around penalties, Arsenal had two turned down before Sean Davis tackled Arshavin in the box. Davis got the ball and Arshavin fell down but Arshavin seemed to indicate to the referee that it was a corner not a penalty, but refs. being what they are, he took no notice and awarded a penalty, and Bendtner gratefully stepped up to get his second goal of the afternoon.

When asked about the ‘penalties’ Andrei Arshavin himself said: "Yes, for the first foul, it was without doubt a penalty [the referee didn’t give it]. For the second – that was the referee’s decision [a diplomatic way of saying it wasn’t a penalty?]. Nick scored, and we led 2-0. "

When asked why he didn’t take the penalty himself.
“Before the game, Arsene wrote down a list of who would take penalties. Bendtner was first on the list.”

Why did the P'mouth fans boo him after the penalty ?

”They were not happy with the penalty or with my game!”

It’s a pity Arshavin isn’t eligible for the Champions League this year.