Wenger defends Arshavin in Russia scandal
December 9th, 2009 - 5:44 pm ICT by ANI
London, Dec.9 (ANI): Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has leapt to the defence of Andrey Arshavin after the playmaker was caught up in national scandal in Russia.
The Russian FA yesterday said they would investigate claims that Arshavin and three other Premier League players were drinking and smoking the night before Russia’s World Cup play-off with Slovenia last month.
Tottenham’s Roman Pavlyuchenko, Everton’s Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Chelsea’s Yuri Zhirkov were part of Russia’s World Cup play-off defeat at the hands of Slovenia.
None of those players are accused individually but are part of the squad under investigation after Russian TV Channel One claimed players were caught drinking and smoking hookah pipes at Moscow’s Marriott Grand Hotel on November 13.But The Mirror quoted Wenger as saying yesterday: “He’s a serious player, I don’t doubt his commitment at all and I don’t believe a word of it. When I see him, how he prepares for games, he’s an example to other players in his approach.” (ANI)
- Pecnik goal against Russia keeps Slovenia's World Cup hopes alive - Nov 15, 2009
- Everton sign Russian midfielder - Aug 25, 2009
- Russia can be world champions in 2018: Platini - Jan 21, 2012
- Arsenal needs a miracle to win Premier League, says Arshavin - Jan 12, 2010
- Russian soccer star Arshavin bitter at Arsenal losing big games - Dec 02, 2009
- Arshavin will become Gunners' all-time great: Wenger - Oct 03, 2009
- Arsene fears more players will leave Arsenal - Sep 24, 2011
- Lifting players' spirit ahead of clash with Barca difficult: Wenger - Mar 29, 2010
- Wenger says gamble on Arshavin paid off in amazing style in historic defeat of Barca - Feb 17, 2011
- Russia to ban hookah smoking in public - Nov 10, 2011
- Premier League title run up still a difficult path: Zhirkov - Apr 06, 2010
- Ronaldo, Rooney, Arshavin among top 10 footballers with odd off-field hobbies - Oct 08, 2009
- Putin trains with Russian ice hockey legends - Nov 19, 2011
- Wenger takes blame for Arsenal's FA Cup ouster at Stoke - Jan 25, 2010
- Wenger jealous of United's FA Cup exit - Jan 04, 2010
Tags: arsenal boss arsene wenger, boss arsene wenger, chelsea, doubt, everton, games, hookah pipes, london, marriott, marriott grand hotel, mirror, moscow, national scandal, playmaker, premier league, russia, russian tv channel, world cup, yuri