Russian football icon Andrei Arshavin has namedthe toughest opponents he faced during his successful football career. He was asked about his toughest opponents in an exclusive interview with 888Sport. According to him, the Manchester United central defensive duo of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are his toughest opponents.

Andrei Arshavin was a Premier League player for four years between 2009 and 2013 in the colours of the Gunners and he came up against Vidic and Ferdinand. The centre back partnership between Ferdinand and Vidic was impenetrable according to Andrei Arshavin.

Fans of Arsenal Football Club may not have fond memories about a firmer player if their club in the person of Andrei Arshavin, but the Russian was steadily making headlines during his time at the Emirates for both positive and negative reasons. The former striker left the Gunners after seeing his stock drop so low while also losing his form. He also struggled for fitness and game time at the tail-end of his Gunners career.

For a player who was signed by Arsene Wenger from the Russian football league, Arshavin arrived at Arsenal and made an impact after the first few games he played for the club. He almost immediately wrote his name on the heart of Arsenal fans with some wonderful performances on the pitch and his comportment off it. He became such a popular figure at the club and amongst the fans because he was also an outgoing personality.

Arsenal fans were shown a glimpse of what's to come at the 2008 European Championships when Andrei Arshavin dazzled as Russia reached the semi-finals of the competition. The Gunners made a big coup by signing Andrei Arshavin from Russian Premier League giants Zenit St. Peters burg at the end of the European Championships in 2008 in what was a record fee for the Gunners as at then.

It was reported that Arsenal paid around £15m to secure his signature and he made a slower start than expected by the fans. Andrei Arshavin didn't pick up until the winter term and the ex-Russian national team skipper took his form to a new level in the new year (2009). His best game for Arsenal was undoubtedly the eight-goal thriller shared by hosts Liverpool and Arsenal in April 2009. Andrei Arshavin scored all the four Arsenal goals as he was able to put a big dent on the title challenge of Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and his players.

Former Arsenal player Andrei Arshavin has joined a long list of people who have criticised German international playmaker Mesut Özil for his style of play. Özil has sparked divisions among fans and pundits in recent months following his activities on the pitch (when he played) and off it.
Despite the technical ability he possesses to individually dictate a football game when the midfielder is out of form, it is always so glaring as he becomes a frustrated figure on the pitch much to the annoyance of fans and past players who have turned pundits.

The transfer of Andrei Arshavin to Arsenal Football Club was predicted and expected to become more than what it eventually turned out to be. He was expected to be a star for many years at Arsenal given how long it took the London club to negotiate before reaching an agreement for his signature.

With how much excitement grew amongst the London Club's fanbase when the rumor mills had news all around that Arshavin was heading to Arsenal, it, unfortunately, did not turn out to be what the football world was expecting.
Arsenal and Zenit St. Petersburg were locked in negotiations for up to a whole month trying to find a common ground that would shit both clubs so the transfer would go through, but the player:s Arsenal career turned out not to be worth all the hassle.

Arsenal legend Martin Keown has said that there were some positives for the Gunners during their recent derby defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.

The Gunners went into the game in good form with 10 points accumulated from the previous four games but they failed to continue the momentum with a victory.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted that he is unsure whether the club will extend the contract of David Luiz. The Brazil international’s current deal expires at the end of the month and so far, the hierarchy have not decided on a suitable extension. The north London side have until June 23 to renew the defender’s contract until the end of the campaign and Arteta is hopeful over the extension.

AS Roma manager Paulo Fonseca has said that he is keen on securing the permanent signature of Arsenal forward Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Armenia international joined the Serie A club on a season-long loan at the beginning of the season and he has since impressed with six goals and four assists from 20 appearances.

Arsenal favourite Ray Parlour has said that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cannot be regarded as a Premier League great, given he has not spent an extended period of time in the division. The Gabon international recently bagged his 48th and 49th Premier League goals of his Arsenal career and he is on course to become the fastest player in the club’s history to reach the 50-goal mark.

Arsenal boss Unai Emery has said that he has not shut the door for Mesut Ozil to make a comeback to the Gunners first-team. The German attacker has experienced a tough beginning to the current campaign and he has been restricted to just two appearances for the north London giants across all competitions.

Speaking in a press conference, Emery said that he has not closed the possibility of Ozil playing for the first-team. The Spanish tactician added that the midfielder has been working hard in training and he could feature for the Gunners during the forthcoming round of matches, he told reporters: “I didn’t close the possibility of playing for him because I think and I want, if he’s okay, him to be ready and available, training with us and giving a good feeling to us in training every day. He can play, my idea is to use every player and he’s one of the squad who can help us. He has big skills and quality we will need in the next matches. I’m happy now how he is improving, how he is training every day.”