Zenit want Arshavin on loan

Zenit St Petersburg claim they are in talks with Arsenal over a possible loan deal for Gunners forward Andrey Arshavin.

Arshavin has been a bit-part player at Arsenal following the arrival of Gervinho and the rise of new signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Russian has made most of his 27 appearances this term as a substitute and has fallen out of favour with Arsenal's fans, who booed when he came on for Oxlade-Chamberlain during the club's home defeat to Manchester United.

Zenit general director Maxim Mitrofanov told Russian newspaper Sovietsky Sport that he is hopeful of persuading the 30-year-old to return to the club where he spent 11 years before moving to London. He said: "We talked with them. Let's see how they themselves continue to lead."

Copyright (c) PA Sport 2012, All Rights Reserved.