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Andrey Arshavin has claimed that his time on the bench at Arsenal left him on the verge of depression.
The talented Russian has re-signed for Zenit St Petersburg following the expiration of his Gunners contract, just over four years after at £15million becoming the club's record signing and having made such a promising start to his Premier League career.
Last season was another in which he rarely featured when manager Arsene Wenger, whose patience in the forward appeared to have run out some time ago, limited him to only 80 minutes in the league, and it is this, he says, that had such an effect.
Bad memories: Andrey Arshavin doesn't speak fondly of his time at Arsenal
'I don’t regret anything, but I had to leave.
'It was a punishment sat on the bench. To train even though you know you won’t play – it is psychologically difficult.
'I nearly suffered depression, but I didn’t because I’m mentally strong. The monotony of life there was crushing me.'
Talented: But Arshavin rarely justified his £15m transfer fee
The forward was left out of Arsenal's starting line up for their 1-0 defeat away to Sunderland in 2009, when Wenger felt he was so low as a consequence of Russia's failure to qualify for the World Cup that he could not be relied upon to start.
'Andrey is very down,' Wenger said then. 'He came back from international duty very low and that’s the main reason I did not play him from the start against Sunderland.
'You want players to be 100 per cent focused and play a game like it’s a matter of life or death, so it is impossible not to be down if you don’t win. If you care, you are down.'
Sympathetic> Arsene Wenger rarely trusted Arshavin last season
Arsenal set to complete Cesar signing but face frustration over Fellaini and Williams
Arsenal will look to complete the signing of Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Julio Cesar after the Confederations Cup.
Arsene Wenger wants an experienced goalkeeper to provide competition for Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny.
Talks between Cesar’s representatives and Gunners chiefs have already taken place, but negotiations have been put on hold due to the keeper’s international commitments.
Wanted: Julio Cesar is set to join Arsenal following Queens Park Rangers' relegation to the Championship
The Brazil international, who is free to leave Loftus Road following QPR’s relegation into the Championship, is keen to stay in London having settled in the capital since his arrival from Inter Milan last summer.
And the Gunners - who hope to complete the signing of Gonzalo Higuain next week after Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti cleared the way for the striker to leave Spain - are confident a deal can be completed after Sunday’s Confederations Cup final.
Wenger has considered moves for Stoke’s Asmir Begovic and Liverpool’s Pepe Reina but, despite having a £70million transfer kitty, the Arsenal manager would rather not spend a significant chunk of his warchest on a keeper.
Main man: Cesar impressed at Loftus Road despite the side's struggles in the Premier League
In addition to Cesar and Higuain, the Gunners are also actively pursuing Swansea defender Ashley Williams and Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini.
But financial issues are providing major stumbling blocks towards Arsenal completing both deals.
At present, Arsenal are refusing to meet Fellaini’s £100,000-per-week wage demands and are also reluctant to meet the £24m release clause.
Missing out? Arsenal look set to be priced out of moves for Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Williams (below)
Likewise, Arsenal are refusing to meet Swansea’s £10million asking price for Wales international Williams.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are set to look elsewhere for a British goalkeeper after seeing their £5million bid for John Ruddy rejected by Norwich.
The Blues want to sign a homegrown keeper to help towards their eight-man quota in next season’s 25-man squad.
Chelsea remain keen on Ruddy, but have been told the England international is not for sale by the Canaries.
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