Football FanCast columnist

Andrei Arshavin, the Spurs transfer target, could have made his Premier League debut last weekend for North London rivals Arsenal had his wage demands not been so high, according to his agent.

Dennis Lachter, Arshavin’s agent, labelled Arsene Wenger “a cunning fox” regarding transfer negotiations at the Emirates but admitted that it was the player’s demands that proved the final straw.

"Wenger was serious about buying Arshavin," said Lachter in the Daily Express.

"If Andrei could have tempered his financial appetite, it was quite possible he would be playing at the Emirates right now.

"Arsenal were prepared to pay about £15million for him. Arsene Wenger is indeed a cunning fox who always says one thing and does the other. He wanted Andrei, but Arsenal are the only top English club who do not pay large salaries."

I’m not really sure how this will help Arshavin, 27, as he looks to seal a move to the Premier League. Will anybody come in for a player described, by his own agent no less, as having a “financial appetite” that Arsenal couldn’t match? Portraying him as a money-grabber will hardly entice clubs and Spurs’ reported interest has cooled in the past week anyway.

It is undoubtedly a good thing that the club are not handing out over inflated wages to players that are clearly looking for a pay day, but Arshavin was in a different class at Euro 2008 so where do the club draw the line?

What do Gunners fans think about this? Is it a positive reflection on the club, or is it hindering the transfers that could see them wrestle the title off Man United?