Silence on the Arshavin front can only mean good things for Arsenal

It has been a while since the most popular Russian was a little meerkat informing us about cheap car insurance. I don’t know whether Arsene Wenger has told his very own fury little Russian to keep quiet for a bit or if Andrey Arshavin is simply lost for words at the clubs recent run of form. Whatever the case, it’s doing the trick.

It was of course Arshavin who was so keen to criticise his team-mates after defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea but, given their recent run of form, surely he won’t be claiming to be the reason for this success?

Arsenal sit in third place, equal on points with Chelsea and just two behind leaders Manchester United. Chelsea still have game in hand over both title challengers but the league is set up perfectly for a more than exciting finish.

Since the 2-0 loss to Chelsea, the Gunners have gone on to record five consecutive wins in the League as well as demolishing Porto in the Champions League knock-out stages. If his team-mates were rallied by his words before, it might be a good idea for Arshavin to speak again given the Champions League draw I have just witnessed.

The mouth-watering spectacle for all lovers of total football awaits in the form of Arsenal v Barcelona. Finally we will see if Wenger’s ‘project’, which is seemingly modelled around that of the Catalan team, is able to challenge or is simply a work in progress.

Having said that, since the Chelsea defeat, Wenger’s men have shown Champions spirit. First they held their nerve, and their stomachs, in scoring two late goals to beat Stoke despite witnessing Aaron Ramsey’s horrific injury. We all know what happened after a similar injury to Eduardo, but it seems the youngsters have learned to cope now. Last weekend’s victory at the KC Stadium was another example of their progress. With the game seemingly petering out for a 1-1 draw, Nicolas Bendtner slotted an injury time winner and kept the title dream alive. If they can go into the tie’s with Barca with confidence then who knows what could happen!

These are surely the qualities Arshavin was pleading for not so long ago? Although I must say one thing. I was at the Emirates for the visit of Liverpool. Not only was it one of the worst displays of football I’d ever witnessed, but Arshavin was probably the worst player on the pitch that night. Now if Wayne Rooney was complaining about United’s recent form then you may be partial to showing a bit of respect to him given the number of goals he has scored. It is not like Arshavin is doing and Henry at Arsenal and carrying the team on his own. In fact, he hasn’t even been that impressive over the past month or so.

His words may have given them a kick up the rear, it may have simply pissed them off, but with five wins on the trot, nobody is complaining. My advice to my second favourite Russian would be to keep the speaking to the Meerkat. Simples!!