Arsenal cult hero Andrey Arshavin has shrugged off the club deleting a birthday congratulations.

Arsenal marked Ashavin's birthday this week with a social media post to the Russian including a video clip of his famous four goal performance against Liverpool.

However, Arsenal soon after deleted the message due the reaction from online Ukraine supporters.

For his part, Arshavin can understand the Gunners' reaction: "I think that at the present time such actions are understandable.

"It's more amazing (Arsenal made the post). Maybe they didn't appreciate the risks."

Arshavin played for the Gunners from 2009 to 2013. He made 144 appearances for the London club, scoring 31 goals and providing 46 assists.