Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is confident of landing Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Andrei Arshavin. Wenger had already said he was "more likely" to strengthen his squad when the mid-season transfer window opened, after Cesc Fábregas's knee injury which will sideline the central midfielder for four months, but he has addressed the subject of the Zenit St Petersburg playmaker for the first time.

"I don't need to announce a name," Wenger said with a smile when asked by the French television channel Canal Plus about Arshavin, "because when you do that there is 50% less chance of making the signing. But I need a creative midfielder and eventually another midfielder, because we are short."