Arsenal Football Club News

• Nickname:Gunners
• Founded:1886
• Manager:Arsene Wenger

• Ground:Emirates
• Capacity:60,432

Arshavin desperate to play

17 Mar 2009 - 08:24:14

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that Andrey Arshavin is desperate to play in Tuesday's FA Cup sixth-round meeting with Hull City despite carrying an injury.

The January signing from Zenit St Petersburg has been restricted to just five appearances for his new club as he is ineligible for the Champions League.

Arshavin opened his account for the Gunners with a well-taken goal in Saturday's 4-0 rout of Blackburn Rovers and despite suffering a gashed foot in the same game, the Russia star is desperate to play against the Tigers.

"Arshavin had eight stitches in his foot but he is still in the squad," Wenger told Arsenal TV Online.

"We will make a decision today. He is desperate to be involved. He just wants to play.

"He couldn't practice today but we'll assess him in the morning."

Elsewhere, Lukasz Fabianski will replace Manuel Almunia after the first-choice goalkeeper suffered an ankle knock against Blackburn.

Croatia striker Eduardo da Silva will also miss out with a hamstring strain.