But Gunners boss does question accuracy of translation
Arshavin: Speculation over future
Arsenal manager
Arsene Wenger has been left bemused by Andrey Arshavin's confession that
playing for Barcelona in the future would be the 'peak' of his career.
The Russia international is a doubt for Monday's trip to
Blackburn, but over the past week he has been speaking of his admiration
for Pep Guardiola's Spanish giants, who knocked the Gunners out of this
season's UEFA Champions League.
Arshavin's agent has since said that his
client is unlikely to leave, but Wenger is still disappointed by the
quotes attributed to his January 2009 signing from Zenit St Petersburg.
"Yes,
I am very disappointed because he shows a completely different
attitude," said the Arsenal boss.
"He wants to extend
his contract with us and stay with us, so the noise coming out of
Russia is very difficult to explain.
"He looks to be very happy
here, so you should ask him where it comes from."
Pride
Wenger declared: "We do not, of course, accept that. When you are at Arsenal, you are at Arsenal. When you are somewhere else, you are somewhere else."I believe that your pride makes first that you defend your club.
"Everybody has the freedom to speak, but you want to make sure first of all that you respect your club."
Wenger, though, reflected: "I just put one question mark behind the things that come back translated.
"Usually you have direct access to him, you can ask him where that comes from.
"I don't forbid you to talk to him, but I take with a little bit of distance what comes back translated sometimes with the help of some agents who want to move the players."
The Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, has said he is
disappointed by comments made by Andrey Arshavin revealing the Russian's
admiration for Barcelona – and has said all his players should respect
their own club.
The 28-year-old, who has been missing from the
Arsenal first team since picking up a calf injury during his side's 2-2
draw with the Catalan club in the first leg of the Champions League
quarter-final, is thought now to be doubtful to make his expected return
in the match against Blackburn on Monday night.
Earlier this week
the Russia international heaped praise on Barcelona and said playing
for the Spanish champions at some stage "would be the peak of my
career".
It is not the first time that Arshavin's comments have
drawn criticism from his manager – the Russian has questioned Arsenal's
direction more than once during a frustrating season.
While Wenger
continues to take such stories with a pinch of salt, given they come
translated from overseas sources, the manager has said his team must
commit totally to Arsenal.
"Yes, I am very disappointed because he
shows a completely different attitude," said Wenger. "He wants to
extend his contract with us and stay with us, so the noise coming out of
Russia is very difficult to explain.
"He looks to be very happy
here, so you should ask him where it comes from. We do not, of course,
accept that. When you are at Arsenal, you are at Arsenal. When you are
somewhere else, you are somewhere else. I believe that your pride makes
first that you defend your club.
Wenger, though, is willing to
give Arshavin the benefit of the doubt. "I take with a little bit of
distance what comes back translated sometimes with the help of some
agents who want to move the players," he said.