The flame may not have burned brightly for long, but there’s no denying that Andrei Arshavin was a game-changer in an Arsenal shirt.
While the Gunners are now screaming for individual flair and ingenuity up front, the Russian maverick certainly did that early in his career at the Emirates, when he joined just a few months after the glorious Euro 2008.
The then 27-year-old had never played outside his home country before arriving in a £15 million deal in January 2009, but the fleet-footed winger hit the ground running, scoring six goals in his first 12 league games and adding 10 the following season.
Arshavin – PL Records | ||
|---|---|---|
season | game | Goal (assist) |
12/13 | 7 | 0 (0) |
11/12 | 19 | 1(3) |
10/11 | 37 | 6(12) |
09/10 | 30 | 10(3) |
08/09 | 12 | 6(8) |
total | 105 | 23(26) |
Although he hasn’t been able to maintain those early results, the 44-year-old has secured cult hero status regardless, and Arsenal’s recent left-field goals could be on the cards if a deal is struck.
Arsenal preparing for sensational £44m early summer bid
Regardless of whether this season ends in glory or not, plans appear to be clear at the Emirates under manager Andrea Berta. Sign at least one new forward.
The Gunners, whose progress in the Champions League and Premier League this season has been supported mainly by their defense and midfield, appear to need major upgrades on both the left and right flanks.
Among the players linked with a possible move in recent weeks is AC Milan’s Rafael Leao, with the Portuguese speedster appearing to be a long-term target in north London.
However, there are further reports elsewhere that the Gunners could indeed be prepared to make a concrete ‘official’ offer for another attacking talent in Galatasaray’s Barys Alper Yilmaz.
According to Turkish journalist Kaya Temer, Arsenal are planning to make a bid at the end of the season and could be hoping to seal a deal before Yilmaz heads to the World Cup with Turkey.
In terms of price, Super Lig sides have been asking for a transfer fee of around £44m in recent months, amid increased interest from rivals such as Chelsea.
Why Yilmaz could be Arsenal’s next Arshavin
No matter how you look at it, there may be some interesting parallels with Arshavin’s own arrival in England, as the Blues have sent scouts to monitor Yilmaz in action this season. The Russian was a key target for Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea in 2008.
However, in the end it was Arsenal who won that race, and Arshavin went on to score 31 goals in 144 games for the Gunners. that He scored four goals against Liverpool at Anfield.
With a low center of gravity, impressive dribbling ability and elite scoring ability, the now 44-year-old has proven to be a rare threat across the front line, with his imposing figure making him a huge threat.
Bringing Yilmaz into the team will certainly feel repetitive in that sense. The Turkish player has been compared to Gareth Bale, and with his blistering speed and acceleration, he has real vitality in his own right.
Like Arshavin, the 25-year-old has so far only played for his home country, joining his current squad in the summer of 2021 and has since emerged as a true key player for the Istanbul team.
The £44m-rated talent, who is usually used on the left but, like Arshavin, is also comfortable playing in the middle or on the opposite flank, had an excellent season at Gala, scoring 27 goals and assisting in 47 games in all competitions.
This includes 19 goals in the Super Lig alone, taking his total for the club to 72 goals and assists in 203 games, reflecting Arshavin as both a goalscorer and provider from the wings.
He is something of an assist machine, creating plenty of chances this season and would be the perfect addition to the squad alongside players like Victor Gökeres.
In the Turkish top flight, Yilmaz created 10 “big chances” in the 2025/26 season and averaged 1.9 key passes per game.
For comparison, only Declan Rice has reached double figures (16) for ‘big chances’ created during his time at Arsenal, and only Rice (1.9) and Bukayo Saka (2.0) can match or better Yilmaz’s record for key passes.
This highlights why Berta and the others are pursuing the kind of move on the left that seems worth the risk, despite the winger’s lack of experience outside of Turkey.
Just like Arshavin before him, you never know if he might become the next cult figure to emerge.
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