Arshavin determined to prove himself once again

Arsenal’s Andrey Arshavin is determined to prove himself at Arsenal, after rejecting the chance to return home and play for former club Zenit St Petersberg.

The Gunners had been willing to let Arshavin leave for a nominal fee but the Russian international who is now in the final year of his current contract worth around £80,000-a-week, has told Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger that he wants to stay put.

Both Zenit and Dynamo Moscow have been told by the player that he isn’t ready for a return to Russia following the recent birth of his wife’s child, while Arshavin himself remains adamant that he’ll be given a final chance to prove himself at Emirates Stadium.

Arshavin’s career under Wenger began on a high note but a dip of form coupled by loss of confidence saw him return to Zenit in February for a loan deal that ended on July 2012.

Marquee summer arrivals of Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski have pushed Arshavin down the pecking order and it was widely expected he will seek regular football elsewhere.

31-year-old Arshavin joined Arsenal in 2009, becoming the second most expensive player in the history of the club with a fee reported to be in the region of £15m.