ARSENAL TALK: Gunners slip behind Blues in race for Russian star

4:04pm Friday 4th July 2008

CHELSEA are believed to have pipped Arsenal and Barcelona in the chase for Russian star Andrei Arshavin, according to newspaper reports.

The Guardian claims that the Zenit St Petersburg attacking midfielder is close to agreeing terms with the Blues after club owner Roman Abramovich stepped in with a £12million bid.

Arshavin, 27, had previously stated his intent to play for Barcelona after admitting he had 'supported them all my life'.

But Abramovich is understood to be excited at the prospect of having his fellow-countryman play for his team.

Arsenal had also been heavily linked with the diminutive playmaker, with Arsene Wenger labelled a 'cunning fox' by a Zenit official, who claimed the Frenchman's comments questioning Arshavin's fitness were designed 'to fool the competition'.