Andrei Arshavin to return to Russia after disappointing four years at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal flop Andrei Arshavin has joined Zenit St. Petersburg, the Russian club have announced.
The 31-year-old is the Gunners’ record signing but the club confirmed his release earlier this month and he will officially return to boyhood club Zenit when his Arsenal contract expires on 1 July.
After Arshavin enjoyed a stunning Euro 2008 with Russia, Arsenal beat off competition from a host of European giants to land the winger for £15m on January transfer deadline day 2009.
But despite showing glimpses of class – most notably in scoring all four goals in the exhilarating 4-4 draw with Liverpool at Anfield in April 2009 – Arshavin failed to live up to expectations in north London.
The tricky playmaker barely featured in his final two seasons and was loaned back to Zenit for six months in early 2012.
He made 144 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 31 goals.
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