Wenger: Arshavin Signing Key To Arsenal's Season

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed the reason why he is keen on signing Russian ace Andrei Arshavin from Zenit St Petersburg.

The attempt to bring Arshavin to the Emirates Stadium has run the entire length of the winter transfer window, with the clubs struggling to agree on a fee for the Russian International, with Arshavin also reportedly demanding huge personal terms to join the Premier League club.

However, Wenger is still confident that Arshavin will sign for the Gunners and sees the addition of the Zenit playmaker as a key signing, with captain Cesc Fabregas along with Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky all on the sidelines at the Premiership side through long-term injury.

Wenger said: "He's a guy who can go past people in the final third.

"He can have the key, individually and collectively.

"He is an experienced player, 27, a good age and we are a very young side.

"We will not have Fabregas in the next six to eight weeks, we will not have Walcott in the next five weeks, Rosicky in the next eight weeks.

"You can see with the replay of the FA Cup we have the desire to do well in every competition and one more body could help us."