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Midfielder misquoted

Arshavin claims comments "lost in translation"

April 30, 2010

Arsenal midfielder Andrei Arshavin maintains he is very much happy at Emirates Stadium- and insists comments made in the Russian media are "often translated wrongly'' and leave him feeling "unpleasant''.

• Arshavin: playing for Barca would be the pinnacle • Wenger disappointed by Arshavin comments

Andrey Arshavin
EmpicsAndrei Arshavin has no desire to leave Arsenal

Arshavin is currently battling to be fit from a calf problem, and may not make the trip to Blackburn on Monday night and was in trouble with his manager after he was quoted as saying he dreamed of playing for Barca.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was left less than impressed by comments attributed to the Russian international which talked up Barcelona, who knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League, and claimed playing for the Spanish giants at some stage "would be the peak of my career''.

Wenger, however, stressed he would continue to take such stories with a pinch of salt given their indirect source.

It is not the first time these reported comments from Arshavin have hit the headlines, but the former Zenit St Petersburg midfielder - who joined Arsenal in a £15 million deal in January 2009 - insists things can be taken out of context.

"I am often translated wrongly,'' Arshavin said in Russian newspaper Sport Express. "If I talk to the English press, there is no problem, but when I say something in Russia, some special news agency takes it, translates it and sells these quotes.

"During the process of interpretation they translate my words as they see fit. I find this unpleasant. People might think I said something that, I fact, I never said.'

"I respect the club and I am happy that I am a part of it. I am very grateful to the Arsenal fans, who love me.''