Arsene Wenger is partly to blame for Andriy Arshavin’s failure to sustain his scintillating early form for Arsenal, according to former Gunner Ray Parlour.

Arshavin, 31, produced a dazzingly display in Russia’s 4-1 win over Czech Republic in their opening match of Euro 2012 on Friday evening.

His performance was of particular interest to Arsenal fans who saw the best, and worst, of the impish Russia playmaker during his time at the Emirates Stadium.

Arshavin joined the Gunners for a club-record £16million from Zenit St Petersburg in January 2009, and immediately made his mark in the Premier League, scoring six goals and creating nine more in his first 15 league outings.

However, it has been downhill ever since for the Russian who has failed to live up to his early promise resulting in him being loaned back to Zenit for the final six months of last season.

Parlour, though, has sympathy for the playmaker and believes his time in north London was blighted by Wenger’s refusal to play him in his favoured central position, instead insisting upon playing him wide on the left hand side.

“You could say that he was played in the wrong position at Arsenal,” Parlour told talkSPORT. “Arsene Wenger’s always played him on the left hand side and he’s more of a central player.

“I’m sure Arsene will be watching and wondering why he couldn’t do that for Arsenal. He never played like that which is frustrating for the fans, Arsene Wenger and the players.”

 

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