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| Arshavin has refuted the claims that he simply doesn't give a sh!t anymore. |
THE SITUATION
How do you see the current situation?
Everything's going the way it's going. Since the Chelsea match our team's been looking very confident and winning points feels easier than at the start of the season.
But, unfortunately, practically without you.
What can I do - that's the way it has turned out.
And how do you feel about that?
Naturally, I want to play in every match. But at the moment, those who play in my position - Samir and Theo (Nasri and Walcott), - look very good. They are in perfect shape and that's why they're out on the pitch.
And you, it turns out, are far from being in perfect shape? Otherwise, I think no competition would've forced you to sit on the bench.
Hopefully, your statement is correct but to verify it I really need to get in a better shape.
What do you need for that to happen?
Work hard in training - football doesn't have any other recipes.
PHYSICAL
I think, that to treat any disease, we must first figure out the correct diagnosis. Let's start with the "physical" aspect. How do you feel?
It varies. There are matches when I feel good, there are matches when I feel worse. But in general, I feel alright.
Nevertheless, it can be seen with the naked eye, that you are inferior to yourself from 2008. What do you think?
I think, at the moment I'm lacking sharpness.
What are the reasons?
I don't know. There are no objective reasons. Maybe, I'm getting older (smiles)
At 29? Tell me, the amount of training work you do, remains the same?
Naturally. But you can't get back to your best, only through training - you have to play games. I'm out on the pitch fairly regularly, actually. Our schedule, at this time, allows everyone to get matches.
But you play, mostly, in cup matches. Where, calling a spade a spade, plays a second string squad.
You're right, although I'm taking it in stride - it's a phase that I need to get trough. I've nothing to reproach myself with. There isn't anything I do that could've knocked me off the track and interfered with my football. I follow strictly, all the coaches' instructions. At the start of the season I stopped drinking, not only alcohol, but even Coca-Cola. By the way, maybe that's the problem? (laughs)
But you probably know your body better than any coach and through the years have come up with tricks how to get yourself in the best shape.
That's why I need more rest - no training, just games. (laughs) But if we're being serious then the work you do in training, naturally, can't be bad for you. And generally, for me personally, training work doesn't vary anymore - (Vlastimil) Petrjela, (Dick) Advocaat, (Arsene) Wenger - it's all similar.
Then what are the sources of variation in physical fitness?
A phase of life, country, food, the way you feel on the inside, etc.
Maybe, Russians simply cannot be in good shape during the winter because their bodies are used to rest in this time of year?
Convenient excuse, but no one really knows whether it's actually true.
And when was the first time you felt that you were lacking sharpness?
Since the start of the season it would only be there occasionally.
Maybe, the unusually long summer vacation is to blame?
Not excluded. Recently, I read what our Biathlon coach had so say: Two month without full training is devastating for any professional athlete. And no exercises, workouts or jogging you do on your own, will save the situation.
Were you feeling fine during the pre-season, after two months of vacation?
Absolutely. It was even easier than usual.
Today, besides the usual training work, is there anything else you do to improve the situation?
Coaches give me personal tasks, which are meant to improve my starting speed.
Do you feel you're benefiting from those?
Initially it felt really good, but now it seems I've gotten used to it.
Do you believe that the key to your current situation is physical fitness?
It doesn't work like that: something's excellent, something's awful. Naturally, after two or three not very successful matches, especially if they're Cup matches, confidence in your own abilities is starting to drop.
PSYCHOLOGY
How does it show?
When you're completely fine, you don't even think, what you should do in a given situation: you operate in an automatic regime. Now, however you get the ball and you start thinking: Should I go it alone? What if I lose the ball? And if I'll pass it, they'll think I just want to get rid of it, that I'm afraid to take over the game? When these type of thoughts are starting to occur, the decision you make is almost always wrong. As a result, you miss a lot of great chances. For example, in the replay match with Leeds, I was in a good position but fired a shot that ended up on the roof of the stadium: for the first time in history of the arena. Couldn't have done it on purpose. Rugby players would have been envious.
Maybe, you're affected by the fact that in the Zenith and the National Team squad you've always been the undisputed leader who was allowed to do absolutely anything but at Arsenal you don't have that status?
Hard to say, but I definitely don't feel any discomfort of such kind.
Is your team's psychological field important to you? (ed: not 100% sure it's correct but there's no other way to translate it)
It is important for any athlete who plays in a team. But here you definitely won't find anything worrying - I don't have problems with my team-mates.
What has Wenger been telling you in recent weeks?
Nothing special. He's been supporting me publicly more.
Do you think, him leaving you on the bench has an element of trying to teach you a lesson?
Certainly not. Arsene just picks those who are currently in better form. Besides, regarding training he doesn't have any complaints and he has said so himself.
Doesn't the idea, that your team-mates are now stronger than you are, knocks you even further off the track?
No, of course not. My problems are not my team-mates, the problems are IN me. They need to be resolved - and everything will fall into place. Hopefully, it'll happen sooner rather than later.
When was the first time you realized some of the thinking you do on the pitch is unnecessary?
In recent matches.
And how do you get rid of it?
Unfortunately, there's no switch in your body that could turn off all the unwanted thoughts. You have to train, to play - confidence and automatic decision making will come back only after several successful matches.
How quickly do you forget failures?
It varies. It all depends on the extent of the failure.
I have a feeling that the trail from Maribor* has stretched up to here... (*city in Slovenia where Russia failed to qualify for the WC 2010 )
It definitely does not affect my current game.
What does affect it - local failures?
Actually, nothing critical is happening. At the moment, the rhythm of the game, when the club plays four matches in ten days - is the best medicine to forget about all the setbacks.
How does your self-esteem change after a major success or a deafening failure?
Not the self-esteem but once again, the level of confidence.
And what if your team will start winning title after title, would you be ready to stay and take on a secondary role?
If it is going to be the condition of our success - of course. But no true athlete would wish to simply be a passenger.
When you were on your way to England, you had plans for the near future. Are they starting to materialize?
I wanted to see how everything works here, to play in the best league in the world, in one of the best teams of that league, with team-mates, some of whom are among the best in the world. All of this is happening.
What about your own place in this idyllic English picture. Are you satisfied?
Not totally. Something seems to be working out but it obviously could be better.
Even now, during your slump, you dream of global achievements?
Yes. I know: If you play football really well, they will come.
You just need to understand what you have to do for that to happen.
If it could have been calculated mathematically, there would've been a lot of great football players. As it is - there are one or two.
Has the complete lifestyle change affected your game?
At home, of course, I feel much more comfortable but also, I'm fully used to London, by now. Here, everything's more measured, calmer, quieter. Although, naturally some domestic problems were solved a lot easier in St. Petersburg. Getting used to London was really hard but right now I don't have any problems.
Maybe, a more measured way of life is responsible for the lack of drive on the pitch?
Who can determine exactly?
MENTALITY
Maybe, you've become a bit calmer and more sensible - thanks to the new lifestyle and everything you've been through.
Have my habits and my nature changed, it can only be assessed by the people close to me and only after I'll come back to Russia.
In football, do you think you've reached the top?
I think, there's still something left in the "stockpile". I hope, I can raise the bar.
Meanwhile, some say your career is on the decline.
What can I say? Everyone has the right to believe what they want. I'm not going to argue with anyone: my job is to play football. I still have time.
What about the desire and the energy?
Desire is definitely there. Energy, as well. Sometimes.
There's another point of view: tough and dynamic English League isn't suited for your style of play.
Football that Arsenal plays suits me completely. Of course, pace of the game in England is higher than anywhere else in the world but this is why it's the best league in the world. Playing here - the most powerful motivator.
Can you already call the English League your own?
I've been here for two years - during these months, it really has been mine.
Do you feel like you've proven everything you wanted to?
I wasn't trying to prove anything to anyone. Only to myself.
How high, the bar on the inside is raised?
I've never even attempted to determine it. Generally, I never think about the global aspects of my career. I'll take what I'm given.
But it happens, sometimes, that people blow their chances.
Maybe, but let me reiterate: my main critic is myself, however at this stage I couldn't blame myself for doing something wrong even if I wanted to.
Is there someone who's giving you advice about life in football?
I don't think there's anyone who can tell me more than I already know
Just imagine how happy you're making your enemies, right now.
Let them be happy. (laughs) That's the way life is - someone's rooting for you, someone's gloating.
LIFE GOES ON
January 1 Arsenal had an away game at Birmingham. Did you celebrate the New Year on the bus, on the way there?
No, we had the time to check into our hotel before midnight.
UK time?
Moscow time.
And, was it festive?
You're kidding?
Did you at least make a wish?
Yes. The way it should be done - with the sound of the clock chimes, I drank a little champagne, I threw the ashes of the paper on which I'd written my wish, into the glass.
Was the wish football related?
I would say - universal, football-o-human.
Pavlyuchenko told me the exact same thing.
Me and Yulia once taught this to Roma and Larisa.
Do the rumors which are sending you to either Juventus or Chelsea have some truth in them?
Of course, not. My thoughts right now, are all about the Arsenal.
This season at Arsenal, everyone's asking questions about the title.
It's too soon to talk about the title. But right now we're in a good position and have been playing very confidently in the recent matches. I'm particularly pleased that we're conceding a lot less.
But Manchester United still refuses to lose.
I have thought about this: wouldn't it be cool if they didn't lose a single match but still not ended up as Champions. They have enough draws.
Do you share the views of those who think that Man Utd this season is inferior to Man Utd from a couple of seasons ago?
Probably, not - they're about the same. It's clear that a lot depends on Rooney, and this season he's been scoring a lot less than previously. But this is actually their advantage - if they managed to grab so many points without their star-striker, what will happen once he's back to his best? It's the story of Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls. Everybody knew he never scores less than 25-30 points a game. And when at the start of the game he wasn't at his best and the team was losing, everyone was calm - they were just waiting for him to get going.
Has Chelsea fallen apart?
No, of course not. They had a lot of problems - injuries to key players. But now, everything seems to be back to normal. I'm sure pretty soon they'll start playing in their usual tempo. Manchester City and Tottenham also shouldn't be dismissed. We're not lacking competition.
In relation to Manchester United, do you feel you're chasing them or do you feel you're on equal terms?
The fight at the top of the table is escalating, every point is as valuable as gold. There's great pressure on everyone and those who are better equipped to deal with it - those will finish first.
In the Champions League, the draw has once again, slipped you Barcelona. What are your thoughts?
I hope, this season our matches against Barca will turn out differently than in the past, otherwise we're gonna have to ask ourselves what have we been doing all this time? Of course, at this stage we would've preferred an "easier" opponent but we've only got ourselves to blame - we should've topped our group. But we lost at Braga, a game which we absolutely had to win.
How do you feel about the extremely short stop you're going to have to make in the Emirates for the National Team match?
It's a further proof that club football is pushing the international game more and more to the sidelines.
Why is that?
Money. Why else?
Does this mean that in Abu-Dhabi no one will be trying too hard?
If someone didn't want to play for the national team, they simply would have refused to come. If we're going, it means we want to play and we will play. The amount of inconveniences it will create is another matter.
All of our national teams' leaders who play in England have problems with the amount of playing time they're getting. So, as it turns out even the best Russian players aren't good enough for the local level?
No. Yuri Zhirkov is injured and the rest are in difficult situations. If there were twenty of us and we were all sitting on the bench, these type of conclusion would be appropriate but right now, there's obviously not enough "material". Especially, since all of us, one way of another make it to the pitch. A month ago I was still playing regularly - was the level of football in Russia different then? It's the kind of mentality we have in our country, once someone gets benched - everyone immediately starts drawing global conclusions. In England it's a fairly standard situation. Take [Tomas] Rosicky, for example - the leader of the Czech national team but for the past two seasons he hasn't been playing regularly. Does it mean that the Czech football is weak now? Or Gyan - Africa's player of the year, until Sunderland's Darren Bent was sold, he didn't have much playing time. But no-one was throwing any tantrums about that.
Nevertheless, we all want to constantly see you in the Arsenal squad.
I want it more than anyone else. Naturally, the current situation does not suit me. What can I do - keep living and trying to improve.
Outside of football, do you manage to keep your spirits up?
The moods are changing, life doesn't consist of just football. But football - the most important part, that's why I always want to play.
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