In another great display of attacking football, in which Newcastle target Andrei Arshavin, who said in January he would love to sign for Newcastle United , was again outstanding, Russia were just too good for Holland tonight, and won 3-1 after extra time, in another great game to watch.
Andrei Arshavin - just brilliant - again - for the Russians
On the last two displays of this Russian side, they have to be fancied to even win the tournament, as their skill was there for all to see tonight - again.
They were 1-0 up in the second half, after another fine goal by the gifted Roman Pavlyuchenko after 56 minutes, his 3rd goal in the competition, in a move that Arshavin had initiated.
But Russia only had themselves to blame for being taken into extra time, as they went far too much on the defensive, and with just 4 minutes to go in the game, they allowed Ruud Van Nistelrooy to score an equalizer the Dutch hardly deserved.
But then in the second period of extra time it was Russia’s skill that paid off as Arshavan again displayed pure magic.
On the left wing, with just 8 minutes to go, he somehow managed to get in a tantalizing cross that evaded Van Der Sar, and substitute Torbinski, tapped the ball home nicely.
And just to show that wasn’t a fluke, Arshavin himself went through to score Russia’s 3rd and decisive goal after 116 minutes.
He brilliantly moved past the tired Holland defenders, who had been given the runaround for most of the game, and shot the ball past Edwin Van Der Sar.
The Holland and Manchester United goalkeeper had been Holland’s best player, as he had saved his country with 3 excellent saves in the first half alone.
But it was a deserved win by this Russian side, and coach Guus Hiddink can be very proud of his great accomplishments over the last two years - what a coach.
The commentators on the ABC channel in the US, kept mentioning that big clubs in Europe were after Arshavin, but they only mentioned one by actual name - Arsenal.
It’s hard to see how Newcastle can still be successful in attracting Arshavin to Tyneside, but miracles are still possible, especially when Kevin Keegan is now back at the club.
If we are ever to get back into the top four in the Premier League, then some miracles will be needed, and sooner rather than later.  
Comments welcome.
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58 responses so far ↓
1 ZidaneMan // Jun 21, 2008 at 22:54
We might still have a chance of getting him. You never know! If Arsenal are after him, then I think he will get more first team football elsewhere. But his price will be quite high now. Come on MA get your cheque book out!!!!
2 rutehh8 // Jun 21, 2008 at 22:55
We’ll never be able to get him.
3 kelvin // Jun 21, 2008 at 22:56
we should have got him before the euros, all we can do now is regret. once again we’ve lost out because we’re too slow.
4 Snoop // Jun 21, 2008 at 22:56
When was the last time Arsenal signed a 27 year old?
5 IrishMan // Jun 21, 2008 at 22:59
MA, offer 25 M for Arshavin and 15 M for Arda, and then put your cheque book back in your ass pocket and bring in some of our own youngsters. With these two, Martins, Owen, and Beye, the electricity will rub off everybody else. What a season it could be……. (I know, it’s good to dream).
6 tapir // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:00
if we cant get him so do other team!
Come on Zenit, u need Mr arshavin for the CL this seaso, tie him faster!
and try buy MR Wise from us, he is very good at spotting without action!
====
The Sun reported yesterday that Zenit forward Andrej Arshavin is a target for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Arshavin could snub a move to London because of his current life in Russia.
He has been with Zenit for the last eight years and he is the number one footballer in Russia. He earns about £ 3.5 million a year and the club he play for is owned by Gazprom.
Russian football is in heavy progress and the impressive display by the national team in Euro 2008 could make them a great force in the years to come. The fact that only one player in the Russian squad play in a foreign league makes it easy to understand that life is ok in Russian football.
7 Hadrian // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:01
ive heard he’s got a get-out clause of 10million .
nyways, no chance of landing the lad now , shame as he’s got pedro’s shimmy on him .
8 Aussie Dave // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:03
its now time for the Freddy Shepherd approach to transfers. Wait for everyone else to bid for Arshavin, then come in a the last minute and bid 10m more than everyone else.
Oh also offer him the same wages we pay owen.
We will certainly be in with a shot of getting him then.
Forget him any other way.
9 Andy1 // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:03
I heard about a get-out clause too.
Might as well bang the offer on the table - you never know!
10 Greg // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:05
it’s over for us
the whole f’g world saw he was brilliant!
if they do sign him, i’m the 1st one to order a shirt online
rgrds
11 IrishMan // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:05
Interesting insight tapir - thanks.
12 Daniel // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:08
Why didnt we sign him in January? Word is Milan are after him, and I can see him at Man U if Ronaldo goes or Chelsea if Lampard does one (Ruskie connection and all that) sadly the SS arshavin has sailed from Tynemouth never to return i think
Still a joy to watch though
13 Pete // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:09
No chance, he’s just too good. We’ve obviously missed out
14 Daniel // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:10
A scrum is breaking out between Europe’s top clubs trying to sign Russian revelation Andrei Arshavin, but Milan are leading.
Although he missed the first two games of Euro 2008 due to a ban, Arshavin has made a major impact on the competition already.
“The only player unexpected to hit these heights was the Russian, Arshavin,†said Rossoneri boss Carlo Ancelotti in the Gazzetta dello Sport.
Milan’s interest is set to intensify further after his Coach at UEFA Cup winners Zenit spoke of his talents.
“He is a player of exceptional opportunism,†explained Advocaat on Goal.com.
“He is the classic man you don’t see for 50 minutes, but when you do spot him the ball is already in the back of the net.
“There are few out there with these characteristics. Sometimes you sit on the bench and think, ‘I really should substitute him,’ but at the end of the day you don’t because you know full well he can decide a match in a split second.â€
The description is reminiscent of Milan veteran Pippo Inzaghi, who is looking for an heir to his throne at San Siro.
“I know Arshavin is interested in a move abroad and that would not be good news for us,†continued Advocaat.
“I hope he stays, but in all honesty I get the feeling if he has the right opportunity then he’ll leave us very soon.â€
To fuel the speculation further, Ancelotti was in the stands for Russia’s match against Sweden and, as the negotiations for Emmanuel Adebayor hit more hurdles between Arsenal and Barcelona, a swift turn towards Russia might be beneficial.
15 tonygreenthetannerballmagician // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:13
If Spurs paid £16 Million for Modric, then what value on Arshavin, who was outstanding tonight and ran the show.Every man and his dog will be after him, but if we offer BARTON in part exchange that might swing it!!
16 Dev // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:15
Arshavin was top drawer tonight but so werea lot of the Russians to be fair. But van Bastens tactics were shocking!! The Dutch full backs constantly pushed too far up and then he takes of his only defensive midfielder which was Engelaar tonight and replaced him with another attacker so with 25 minsleft of the 2nd half he had switched to playing four attacking midfielders and 2 strikers leaving the two centre-backs exposed time and time again.
It could have been 7 for Russia had the ref not missed a blatant penality and the woodwork and van der Sar getting in the way on several occaisions.
Great extra time performance from Russia though but the first 90 mins Holland’s tactics were very odd.
Hiddink really gave van Basten a lesson in tactics.
Against both France and Italy Holland got away lightly as both Henry and Toni were missing chances for fun so it was going to catch up with the Dutch at some point.
Boularouz was shocking and constantly found himself out of position with striker Dirk Kuyt running back several times to cover for the awol right back who to be fair shouldnt have been on the pitch with Hettinga available and sitting on the bench.
Arshavin was top quality and so were both Russian fullbacks but for me one of the star performers was CSKA Moscow goalkeeper Andre (Igor for short lol) Akinfeev who’s distribution was outstanding all game long.
17 Daniel // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:19
Its Igor Akinfeev not Andre mate (not that it matters) but the guy looks immense and is still a bairn - gonna have a hell of a future
18 Dev // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:21
Like has already been said….we are too late for Arshavin.
Waiting till the Euro’s are over is a stupid policy and even if you do end up getting your targets they cost you twice as much.
Dennis Wise is a mug and Ashley needs to stop being a tight f**ker.
We’ll end up with Anthony Gardner at this rate.
19 Spyro // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:22
Arshavin will cost around 16million now i think
20 Dev // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:22
Igor , andre…..it only says akinfeev on his shirt lol
21 Spyro // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:22
really annoyed that our cheap board has cost us yet again, sick of it
22 SwedeEric // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:23
Kelvin, it´s people like you who give us newcastle fans a bad image… Talking about us being to slow? Seriusly, just because media said we were after him doesn´t meen we could have got him just like that…
It´s not like scouts in other clubs didn´t know about him before these two games…
23 Dev // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:23
yeah he’s been first choice for moscow for 3 seasons already and he’s still only 21 or something. Didnt have too much to do tonight in terms of saves but his distribution to the fullbacks was first class.
24 Spyro // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:29
just had a look at a gooner forum, they are going absolutley MAD over arshavin
25 belfast toon // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:31
what can i say if we have let him slip through we are fu***ng mugs
26 Ross // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:40
not surprised theyre going mad for him spyro, if he slotted into their midfield they’d be brilliant. he wouldnt just be a replacement, he’d be an improvement.
27 Jim // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:40
Modric
Turan
Arshavin
Whoever is spreading the rumours about Newcastle’s transfer targets have a very good eye!
28 Tom_Toon // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:43
Good eye? All of those have been well known for a while now, i first heard of Arshavin about 1 and a half years ago.
29 Spyro // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:46
indeed i have known of Arshavin, Afellay and Modric since i bought FM 2006 lol
30 Spyro // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:47
and Nasri, Ben Arfa, Menez and Saivet aswell
31 vic // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:47
Zhirkov, Kolodin, Arshavin & Pavlyuchenko able to improve any team including Real Madrid and MU. Sorry guys we lost Arshavin…
32 craig // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:47
if we dont get arshavin i will cry
33 Merwe // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:50
This is what scouts are for,finding hot talent thats yet undiscovered.We had the chance to get a gem.Now its too late,his discovered by the whole world now.im shattered we gonna lose out on him…
34 Tom_Toon // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:54
I didnt know him from FM cos i aint even played on it, i just heard him mentioned a few times, then i completely forgot him till we were linked with him.
35 GSfan // Jun 21, 2008 at 23:57
So sorry for going off topic here!
How would you guys rate Güiza? Just wondering…
36 scotty // Jun 22, 2008 at 0:01
If we sign him i’ve told my pals i’ll walk down the street with wor lass’s knickers on!!!
That’s how confident i am…..
37 Tom_Toon // Jun 22, 2008 at 0:01
Gone to fenerbahce aint he? Good lumbering strker, top scorer in la liga last season, not fast but strong and a great finisher, only really just blossomed at 27.
38 bailey // Jun 22, 2008 at 0:04
Like watching Peter Beardsley. Well almost.
39 GSfan // Jun 22, 2008 at 0:05
Ugh so the rumours have spread that he’s gone to Fenerbahce? Well, there has been no official word from Fenerbahce regarding Güiza and Aragones for a week now! That’s rather strange because they would just slag off the media saying rumours are rubbish. They didn’t do it this time though so I’m assuming the rumours are solid… If he’s good as you describe (cuz Fener needs a good finisher instead of Kezman who just fails at that) then I’m really scared lol. Thanks for the reply tho! I haven’t kept track of him much.
40 figsdad // Jun 22, 2008 at 0:11
why build your hopes up lads we havnt got europe so there is no chance of him signing for us..
also martins will go to arsenal..
41 Jinal // Jun 22, 2008 at 0:35
I’ve been holding back on making comments on our ‘targets’ until I actually saw them in something other than a youtube video, and after his displays in the last 2 games, Arshavin is nothing short of brilliant!! I think he and Arda would link up well in midfield. And I love their attitude as well - pure commitment no bollocks.
ARDA AND ANDREI - if you are reading this, PLEASE SIGN FOR THE TOON - you are perfect for us!!!!!!!!!!!!!
42 Jinal // Jun 22, 2008 at 0:37
Also, I don’t know how they play at club level, but in the Euros atleast, Gomis was terrible and Van Der Vaart was decent - nothing all too amazing though
43 JP from The Rock of Gibraltar // Jun 22, 2008 at 1:27
What a player Arshavin is!!! AMAZING!! Once again we’ve been too slow, we’ve missed out on a real diamond
44 Sav // Jun 22, 2008 at 1:50
The Turkish midfielder Altintop was great, too last night. There’s a few Ruskis I’d have at SJP now that Arshavin is off to the bright lights.
45 Marat18 // Jun 22, 2008 at 4:03
Sorry,
as much as I am happy of Russia’s victory, that much I’m depressed that now we have no chances of getting Arshavin.
You can say it:
it’s official: Arshavin won’t play in b&w next season
46 Asian Toon // Jun 22, 2008 at 6:51
Competition For Asharvin is too great now.Big club r after him .We can still try for him ,will cost a bomb by now.If not pls pls try his compatriot Pogrebynyak.(injured now) Sure will cost much2 less but a great player!
47 Wezside // Jun 22, 2008 at 7:59
I’m curious to what AA has been doing these last 26-27 years. Somebody of his quality and of his brillliance only really catching the eye at his age? Very surprising to me, and just shows that some players develop later. Does this mean smith can still be as good as him
48 Davey G // Jun 22, 2008 at 8:37
It was widely reprted recently that Denise wise had met with his advisors recently, and was trying to steal a march on rival bidders!!
Lets hope he has stole a marathon on them and the deal is in the bag!
Then and only then will I begin to like the cockney dwarf!!!
49 sirjasontoon // Jun 22, 2008 at 9:12
“It was widely reprted recently that Denise wise had met with his advisors recently, and was trying to steal a march on rival bidders”
Haha I like it….that cockney wide boy will be out of a job soon he is hopeless.
I have decided just to ignore all speculation from now on,I will be very surprised if we sign any decent players for next season and it is clear that MA is not prepared to invest and build a team worth paying to watch.
The blue print is keep the gate prices high and keep the product barely acceptable to watch,milk the fans and make profit.
This recruitment team is such a bad idea and I said from day one that it would be a disaster…I don’t know how you lot feel but I am gutted at the way Ashley is running our club…yes we might be financially safe…but on the other hand we have a piss weak team,no ambition and scrooge at the helm.
50 Nobby's Dad // Jun 22, 2008 at 9:17
Oh for heavens sake will people stop saying we MISSED OUT on Arshavin. He is absolute quality and it was known before the Euro’s. I’ve said time and again that people on here need to get real - Arshavin will go to a top club….and like it are not we are not at that level. It’s got NOTHING to do with us being slow or MA not spending the money…..it’s about Arshavin being ambitious and at 27 he’ll want to play in the Champions league.
Now will some of the idiots on here start to show some realism!!
51 ArtyH // Jun 22, 2008 at 9:27
It certainly looks like the days of big spending have long since gone on Tyne-side! This deal for Arshavin should have been tied up in January when the lad said he would love to sign for Newcastle, it would have done away with all the inflated prices cos a player has a great competition. Don’t forget though that its only a few games and not a season.
52 WIGAZ // Jun 22, 2008 at 9:54
It was quite depressing watchin this lads talent exploding on to the scene! imagining arsene & alex licking their chops! the only thing we can hope for is that while everyone else was sleeping & pissing around with should i stay or should i go players (Helb,ronaldo & Ronaldinio for shity) we’ve been tying up the final stages of buying possibly the most creative player in the world at the mo! i hope wise has done all the ground work on a few deals like this & has just been waiting for KK to return to finalise them! we should bid for Russian Forward too! big lad begins with P cant spell it! ha ha!
53 Ross // Jun 22, 2008 at 10:12
nobby’s dad- it was reported arshavin said in january that he knew how big a club newcastle was, and if we were to come in for him, he’d find it impossible to turn the move down.
so to be honest, that says to me we could have got him, in january.
there was no real interest from other clubs, yet now, there is a host of teams desperate for his signature.
54 euanpolo // Jun 22, 2008 at 10:15
Gomez was poor at the Euros, but we know he is quality, maybe we could get him now there is less atention focused on him. The same goes for Gomis. Anyway there is still lots of talent in the Russian side that we could sign. What about Zhirkov, Ignaseshevich and Pavlyuchenko?
55 DanToon // Jun 22, 2008 at 10:35
We got no chance, he’s too good for Newcastle i’m sorry to say!
56 Punk Skunk // Jun 22, 2008 at 11:10
Aye, pity, he’s probably the closest i’ve seen to Pedro!..Kidnap him!..
57 Steeley // Jun 22, 2008 at 11:40
http://sport.setanta.com/en/Blogs/A-to-Z-of-Bloggers/Alex-Livie/02/06/Magpies-may-regret-Arshavin-delay/
Read that link and weep! I almost did. It pretty much sums up exactly what has happened to us. Why the f&*k did Keegan think it acceptable to head off on a 2 week holiday when it was blatantly obvious that this guy needed to be tied up before the Euros began!
It pains me to say it, as I am patient man when it comes to transfers, but this has been a hugely momumental mistake for the whole of the Newcastle board and the manager!
Hopefully its not a sign of things to come for the whole summer!
58 Michael12 // Jun 22, 2008 at 13:24
Forget Arshavin, There is no way in hell we have a chance of getting him now. The Player has just announced himself to the world, The big Teams are going to go after him, teams that can offer him Champs League football and shot at league titles. He is beyond us and now. Sad but nothing we can do now
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