Kolo Toure... thinks Andrey Arshavin will need time to settle
Toure - Why 'great' Arshavin will need time
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Kolo Toure believes that Andrey Arshavin will need time to adapt to English football but is certain that the Russian will become a “great, great player” for Arsenal.
After being named among the substitutes in the North London derby, Arshavin was ineligible for Monday’s superb FA Cup victory over Cardiff. However, he could make his debut during Sunderland’s visit to Emirates Stadium at the weekend.
The Ivorian is excited about seeing the playmaker in action but is aware that he may need to acclimatise to his new surroundings after spending his entire career at Zenit St Petersburg.
“People have to be patient with him, of course,” Toure told the Official Matchday Programme. “It doesn’t matter where you go, you always need some time to adapt.
“If I have to play in Japan, for example, my body needs time to acclimatise; it’s how we are built. So we need to be patient and help him fit into the team.
“He’s only just started training with us, really, and I think that when he feels comfortable in the team we’ll see a great, great player.”
Toure was instantly impressed by the Russian’s training-ground contribution and the Ivorian is certain that he’ll have no trouble adopting the ‘Arsenal way’.
“I think he’s just the right type of player for Arsenal,” he said. “We can see that he’s really quick, intelligent, a good passer and can score goals. I think he’s definitely going to help us - from his first training session you could see what quality he has.”
This interview first appeared in the Official Matchday Programme. You can subscribe by calling 08700 20 20 20.
[Wednesday, February 18, 2009]
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