Continental elite alerted to discovery of Russia’s hidden star

With his unkempt mop of hair, gaunt features and baby face, Andrei Arshavin looks like he should be in the Arctic Monkeys, although after this outstanding performance, he could end up being even more successful. It is difficult to recall an individual display that has made such an impact on one team at a leading championship without looking back to the legendary World Cup feats of Zinédine Zidane in 1998, Diego Maradona in 1986 and, indeed, Marco van Basten in this tournament 20 years ago. Arshavin, the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker, is in good company.

Having been beamed around the world to an enraptured television audience, Arshavin’s man-of-the-match performance, in which he created Russia’s first two goals before scoring the third that confirmed their thoroughly deserved victory and passage into the semi-finals, will spark a scramble for his signature to make Cristiano Ronaldo’s proposed move to Real Madrid look like a minor quarrel between old friends.

Perhaps the only viewer not to enjoy the spectacle will have been Dennis Wise, the Newcastle United executive director (football), who last week made an unofficial approach to Arshavin’s advisers that will now be consigned to the wastepaper bin. Arshavin may yet play at St James’ Park, but, after this stunning confirmation of his quality, it will not be for the home team. The boy can do better.

Arshavin won the Russian league and Uefa Cup with Zenit last season, so he can be forgiven for holding out for an established Champions League club who can pay him top wages. Barcelona have already registered their interest in a player who possesses the delicacy of touch, eye for a pass and outstanding pace to fit in at the Nou Camp, while Arsène Wenger hinted yesterday that he had been watching with interest. “My eye is always looking at who can strengthen Arsenal Football Club,” the Arsenal manager said.

Arshavin’s close control and willingness to take on defenders would be perfect for Arsenal, possibly as a more prolific replacement for the unsettled Alexander Hleb, but he will not come cheap because Russian football is flush with enough money to make even Barclays Premier League chairman turn green with envy.

Zenit are sponsored by Gazprom, the third-biggest corporation in the world, with a market capitalisation of £176 billion as a result of providing 25 per cent of the European Union’s gas supply, in addition to enjoying a virtual monopoly in Eastern Europe. Gazprom has invested more than £50 million in Zenit, enabling them to pay Arshavin £35,000 a week after tax, while most of their rivals are backed by other utility companies or wealthy oligarchs.

Mike Ashley, the Newcastle owner, would have to sell an awful lot of replica shirts to compete in such a marketplace, but Roman Abramovich has deeper pockets. The Chelsea owner was celebrating with his compatriots in Basle on Saturday and it would be no great surprise if he sought to take Russia’s latest national hero with him to Stamford Bridge.

The only question mark surrounding Arshavin centres on what exactly he has been doing with his career for the past eight years at Zenit. It seems too long to spend in the relative backwater, if cash-rich world, of Russian football for a man of his ability, although Guus Hiddink, the Russia coach, is adamant that Arshavin would thrive on a bigger stage.

The Dutchman was so convinced of his ability that he named the 27-year-old in his squad despite knowing that Russia could be knocked out by the time he was available – he was suspended for their first two matches – but it was a gamble that has been vindicated.

“Andrei knows how to fight and be brave in his play,” Hiddink said. “He is one of those boys who knows how to dribble at defenders and how to play on the edge, so that they can’t tackle him in case they concede a penalty. That is a tremendous skill. He has a real mental strength, too.

“I kept him on because I believed he could make the difference – and because he’d already had his holidays. I thought he’d missed two matches, so it was time to let him work for the next two. At the end, I knew everyone would be almost dead, but that if Arshavin was on the pitch, Holland would have to keep an eye on him.”

Not that Russia are a one-man team, with Roman Pavlyuchenko leading the line with gusto, Igor Semshov controlling midfield and Yuri Zhirkov bombing forward with incredible reserves of energy for a left back. Holland were strangely lacklustre, despite effectively being given a week off since they secured qualification. Hiddink provided the most insightful analysis. “Being superior to the Dutch is tremendous because I know how they prepare tactically and physically,” he said. “I’m not trying to use an arrogant word, but we were better then them in all compartments of the game. They got back to 1-1 using the only weapon they had – free kicks.”

To his credit, Van Basten agreed, making a point of visiting the Russia dressing-room to wish them luck for the rest of the tournament. “Russia were much stronger and in extra time they scored two good goals,” he said. “In the end, they deserved the victory. They were better than we were.” In years to come, even Van Basten may look back on Arshavin’s masterclass as his favourite worst nightmare.

How they rated

Russia

4-1-3-2

I Akinfeev 6 A Anyukov 6 S Ignashevich 5 D Kolodin Y 6 Y Zhirkov Y 8 S Semak 7 I Saenko 7 I Semshov 8 K Zyryanov 7 A Arshavin 9 R Pavlyuchenko 7

Substitutes: D TorbinskiY 6 (for Saenko, 81min) D Bilyaletdinov 6 (for Shemshov, 69), D Sychev (for Pavlyuchenko, 115).

Holland

4-2-3-1

E van der Sar 6 K Boulahrouz Y 4 A Ooijer 5 J Mathijsen 5 G van Bronckhorst 6 N de Jong 5 O Engelaar 4 D Kuyt 5 R van der Vaart Y 5 W Sneijder 7 R van Nistelrooy 5

Substitutes: J Heitinga 5 (for Boulahrouz, 54min), I Afellay 5 (for Engelaar, 62), R van Persie Y 6 (for Kuyt, 46).

Taken from timesonline.co.uk