Andrei Arshavin arrives at Arsenal

I am thinking of getting Andrei (or Andrey as the Arsenal website prefers) Arshavin to pick my lottery numbers. Yesterday, before any deal had been confirmed, he said: "Now I can say only one thing, that if I play for Arsenal, it will be at number 23." And just look at him now! Psychic.

Amid the smiles and photos there has been some controversies…

Arshavin has revealed that he doesn’t like some of his new team-mates. He said: "I like Arsenal’s style, I like Arsène Wenger as a coach, and I like some players in this team." Is that so? But you don’t like other players in his team?

And there has also been murmurs of discontent that snow supposedly held up the deal until 24 hours after an already extended deadline. Rumours that paperwork on Zenit’s side of the deal arrived late and that the deal should not officially have been completed have now emerged.

Meanwhile, Zenit Offside has ‘uncovered’ a picture of a young Arshavin dreaming if his future in Arsenal colours. Apparently, they are happy just to have the transfer saga over.

And we will leave this Arshavin-fest with one final thought: let’s hope that Arsenal’s new record signing lives up to the lofty levels of performance set by the previous incumbent… Sylvain Wiltord.