The agent of Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Andrei Arshavin expects him to join Arsenal this week.

The Russian playmaker, 27, is set to join the Gunners from Zenit St Petersburg for £17million on a contract worth £96,000-a-week.

The package dwarfs the £80,000-a-week paid to current top earners William Gallas, Emmanuel Adebayor and boss Arsene Wenger.

The fee shatters Arsenal's record transfer deal, which has stood for nine years since French striker Sylvain Wiltord arrived from Bordeaux for £13m.

Arshavin's agent Dennis Lachter said: "The deal should go through this week. Andrei wants to go, Arsenal want him and Zenit accept they have to sell.

"It's just a matter of sorting out the sums but the indication is it'll happen soon, perhaps within days."