Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin has completed his loan move to Zenit St Petersburg until the end of the season.
Midfielder returns to Russia until end of season
Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin has completed his loan move to Zenit St Petersburg until the end of the season.
Skysports.com reported earlier on Friday a deal had been agreed to bring the Russia international back to Zenit, the club from which he joined the Gunners in January 2009.
Arshavin and Zenit confirmed the deal had been finalised on the final day of the Russian transfer window.
The player said on his official
Twitter account on Friday evening: "It's done."
The 30-year-old has struggled for form at Arsenal this season, making most of his 27 appearances as a substitute and falling out of favour with Gunners fans.
Surprise
The move may have come as a surprise to manager Arsene Wenger, who had maintained earlier in the day he did not expect Arshavin to rejoin his former club before the Russia transfer window closed, while revealing he "will not stand in his way" should an 11th-hour agreement be reached.
However, the Russian club said on their
official website: "Arshavin is back!
"FC Zenit welcomes the return of Andrey Arshavin to St Petersburg."
Arshavin made 98 league appearances, scoring 23 goals, and 133 appearances in total for the Gunners.
