Former Manchester United winger Andrei Kanchelskis insists Arsenal have paid well over the odds for Zenit St Petersburg attacker Andrei Arshavin, who he rates at no more than £7m.

"In England, it is a very different style of football," said Kanchelskis. "It will be incredibly difficult for him to get used to it."

Former Chelsea and Fulham midfielder Alexei Smertin has similar reservations.

"The Premier League is much faster, more powerful and athletic," he said.