“There was nothing special last season for me to think back about. The season was normal – even pitiful,” Arshavin said.
These words appeared in The Sun and is exactly two sentences long. That and something about being happy for Zhirkov and Chelsea being the strongest team. First of all, was this part of a bigger interview and with whom? Second, even such a definitive statement can be read two ways.
The narrow would be Arshavin’s frustration with Arsenal’s season but more likely it was a summation of his own performance marred by inconsistency and injuries, Russia not qualifying for the World Cup, and one more year without a trophy at Arsenal. There were no career highlights to speak of.
Both interpretations could be correct but the media trope of another disgruntled Arsenal player champing at the bits to leave a sinking ship and go somewhere else is too good to pass up. So the Sun’s spin is Arshavin slamming Arsenal and on a collision course with Wenger.
On a more positive note, Aaron Ramsey has signed a long term contract at Arsenal. He seems to be coming along nicely in his rehabilitation.