Arsenal Outcast Considering Shock Retirement

Despite the transfer window being closed there is still plenty of gossip doing the rounds in the newspapers so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest transfer rumours. Today, is Andrey Arshavin set to retire?

Could Andrey Arshavin really be about to quit football aged just 32? Well according to the Independent, the Arsenal outcast is giving the idea some serious thought as he struggles to find a suitable club ahead of next season.

Arshavin has fallen well down the pecking order and has managed just 2 starts for the first team this season – both coming in the League Cup – and with his contract set to expire in the summer, it seems it might not only be the end of his Arsenal career, but his entire footballing career.

The Independent claim Gunners boss Arsene Wenger won’t offer the Russian attacker a new deal at the Emirates and Andrey has become so disillusioned by the lack of interest in his services he’s ready to walk away from the game.

The newspaper suggests Arshavin split from his wife last year and is now seeing an Englishwoman in Hampstead, so would be keen to remain in the London area, but his options are limited as he would only consider a club competing in the top half of the Premier League table.

The report claims that the only club to show any interest in his services this season was Reading back in January but Arshavin turned down the move as he didn’t want to play for a club fighting relegation and there hasn’t been any interest since – not even from his hometown club Zenit St Petersburg – leaving the 32-year-old contemplating his future.

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If true, it would be something of a shock and a sad end for someone who was once regarded as a ‘world class’ signing when he was brought to north London from Zenit back in 2009. Arshavin was one of the best attackers in Europe at the time and while he showed that kind of form during his first few months at Arsenal, he’s steadily faded away into a shell of his former self.

There have been some amazing highs points during his Arsenal career such as the 4-goal haul at Anfield, but with it some terrible low points like his inept substitute performance against Man Utd. I’d still like to see him play on and if he wants to stay in the London area a club like Fulham or West Ham would be a good move, although I’m not sure how he’d cope playing under Sam Allardyce!

Hopefully we see Arshavin find a suitable club as it would be a huge waste for talent for him to call it a day at just 32-years-old.

Would you like to see Arshavin carry on playing? Get involved in the comments section below.