The agent of Andrey Arshavin has dropped an Arsenal bombshell ahead of tonight's Champions League clash with Manchester United. Arshavin's agent, Dennis Lachter, is claiming that Barcelona and other top clubs are interested in luring him away from Arsenal, and that Gunners stars Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie are jealous of the Russian striker's sudden popularity in London, says the Daily Mail.

"It's not only Barcelona," said Lachter. "After the game at Liverpool where Andrey scored four goals several teams told me they were interested in him.

"But currently he is an Arsenal player. Taking into consideration the amount of money which was paid for him and important role he's already acquired at the club, my client is not going to leave.

"Though - to tell the truth - the players of Arsenal are not easy to deal with. The squad consists almost entirely of foreigners. The French diaspora rules there.

"Also there are guys - like van Persie and Fabregas - who are rather jealous about Andrey's fast growing popularity in England.

"But such situation can only add motivation for him to work harder and improve his football skills."

Asked by a St Petersburg newspaper if Arshavin had any specific problems with his team-mates Lachter said: "No, but he was a target of jokes.

"Not very smart jokes, I must admit. But that's a football team for you. Such jokes are the same everywhere - in Russia or England."