Zenit St Petersburg are closing in on Arsenal midfielder Andrey Arshavin.

The Mail on Sunday says Arshavin is set for a third spell at Zenit St Petersburg with the Russian club poised to make a move in the January transfer window.

Arsenal are keen to do a deal with the Russian giants in the winter window to prevent the midfielder leaving for free in the summer when his contract expires.

The 31-year-old is believed to earn £90,000-a-week and is one of Arsenal's top earners but the club now want him off the wage bill as he has been reduced to a bit part player.

Manager Arsene Wenger will expect around £3million for Arshavin, and Zenit are prepared to offer the Leningrad-born attacker a two-and-a-half-year deal.