Getting the best out of Andrey Arshavin

It's not often, one of your star player's clowning glory for the club is a match played two years ago but for Andrey Arshavin, it increasingly looks like it is. Granted, that match was a 4-4 draw with Liverpool in which the Russian scored all four of Arsenal's goals but he has found it difficult, since then, to add more performances of quality to the list. His failure to match the dizzy heights of the thriller at Anfield and the subsequent half-season he impressed upon joining the club in 2009, is even made apparent by his wife. When asked of his best games of last season and Arshavin could only muster two - Porto 5-0 and Liverpool 2-1 - she butted in and jokingly exclaimed, "yeah Liverpool – in the last season!"

The problem with Arshavin is that he has delivered in moments rather than as a key influencer in the pattern of play. His contribution tends to be short and succinct as opposed to Arsenal's main playmaker, Cesc Fabregas, whose actions are more extrapolated yet still laced with the same risk. Take the magical night at Anfield in the April of 2009 and even then, he was shunted to the periphery for much of the match before exploding with four devastating touches. Arguing his inability to get more involved in the game due to his relative novice in English football falls on deaf ears now because he has still yet to fully synchronise himself with the Arsenal style.

His place in the starting XI is seemingly only assured because of his ability to be decisive in unexpected moments and indeed the statistics are with him; he has made eight assists and has scored three goals this season. However, one would argue it is unhealthy for a team to carry a player who is as spontaneous and sporadic as Arshavin, especially one experiencing such defensive fragilities as Arsenal. His role on the left is heavily subsidised; he is allowed to drift infield to cause more damage to the opponents and press high up the pitch but as such, not expected to carry the responsibilities of the team's failing as a natural playmaker would have behind the forward. Indeed, with such a freedom of expression granted, surely it would be expected for him to carry more than an even weight of responsibility than he currently does? The frequent substitution of Arshavin before 65 minutes seems to highlight, that he is seen as Arsenal's ultimate impact player and very much luxurious in his use.

"He has a game that is based on risk," says Arsène Wenger. "He tries to make incisive passes so of course when he takes one risk and it doesn't work for him he takes another one. So sometimes people are impatient with his decision making. But if you look at the numbers of Arshavin in the Premier League you will see that he is the best passer and has more assists than anybody so that means [his game is] based on gambling but as well [it is] very efficient.

"He doesn't frustrate me because I invite him to play the game that is Arshavin's game. That means to go forward and provoke. There are some days it doesn't work but Arshavin has great quality: he analyses very well, is very honest and has a fantastic objective assessment of his own performance. He is very demanding for himself so I have a huge respect for him."

How to get the best out of Arshavin seemingly lies in a matter of position. His preferred role is as as a dynamic second striker/playmaker and the Arshavin apologists would love to see him play in that position as much as the Russian himself. Wenger, though, feels there is no reason for him to produce on the left because it is a custom made role. Robinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho are examples of mavericks who have excelled in a wide forward role. But the option to deploy him centrally is still open for Wenger who has used him in two matches this season in that position. The first was a 3-2 defeat to West Bromwich Albion where, upon going three behind and missing the spark of Fabregas to injury, Arshavin was summoned to try and penetrate the Baggies defence. Arsenal clawed two goals back although, ironically, it was through Samir Nasri, who himself moved from the middle to the left, who inspired the failed comeback. Against Aston Villa, however, it was a different story as Arshavin was Arsenal's most dangerous player, first scoring with a run and finish from the left, before moving centrally as the Gunners found a two-nil cushion.

The 4-2 win at Villa Park highlighted just how best it is to use Arshavin. With Arsenal accused of affording to much space to Tottenham in a 3-2 defeat after taking a similar lead, Wenger opted to put Tomas Rosicky and Samir Nasri in box-to-box wide roles. This made the formation a more orthodox 4-4-1-1 as opposed to Arsenal's usual 4-2-3-1 and Arshavin was able to play more freely and press with greater security. Dropping back the wide players meant Arsenal were less susceptible to being overrun and the two central midfielders exposed as they have been so often this season. The same tactic, however, should have been used against Manchester United where Arshavin was once again ineffective and Alex Song and Jack Wilshere outnumbered. Arsenal as a whole were below-par and again, without the talisman Fabregas lacked punch which Arshavin could have provided centrally. As a result, his impotence on the left was derided, most scornfully by Italian great Alessandro Costacurta who commented for Sky Italia saying; "the way Arshavin always wants ball to feet, never in space – not just annoying. Predictable too."

It's a pertinent point, which, with Arshavin's lack of impact and Theo Walcott and Nasri form, mean he place in the starting line-up shouldn't be so assured anymore. His tracking back certainly leaves a lot to be desired, exposing a talented but woefully lacking in confidence, Gaël Clichy.

But there is the other side of Arshavin which seems oh so tantalising. The ability to pick a killer pass and if, on the same pitch with the likes of Wilshere, Fabregas and Robin van Perise offers a devastating attacking force. He has also delivered at key moments this season and last season which have gone unnoticed. But that may mean falling into the same trap; that direct is more better when, tactically Arsenal may be better off playing more shorter. And have we talked about the assists chart; the same chart which Arshavin sits on top of for Arsenal and third overall...OK, maybe we have. But that is perhaps the charm of the plucky little Russian.

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