Andrei Arshavin deal to Arsenal cools

The ongoing saga of Andrei Arshavin continues and providing he would take such advice, it would be wise for him to start considering reconciling with Zenit Saint Petersburg as Arsenal does not look prepared or able to come up with the necessary funds.

Per the Arsenal web-site their manager Arsène Wenger stated:

"[We are] nowhere. That means we are not close to signing anybody.

"We know what we want to do, but we are not close to signing today because I would tell you. But there is no basic news. There again, we are in negotations yes but we want to respect our principles.

"I am very hopeful [of a deal]. We will know in days because the transfer window closes on February 2 and we have only crossed halfway.

"If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. There again, we want to continue to improve here with the players we have."

Quite simply, this situation is no further along that at anytime previously and Arsenal is considerably off Zenit Saint Petersburg's demands. While they are attempting to low-ball Zenit with an offer that is considerably less than most strikers in the Premier League, Zenit are not in the business of giving away one of Football's brightest stars at fire sale prices. In addition to issue of the transfer price in which they are off Zenit Saint Petersburg's price by a full £8 m, they must equally deal with a significant short-coming in the Russian internationals salary.

Given this, it will take significant movement by all parties in the next three weeks to see Andrei Arshavin ply his trade with Arsenal this year.