Andrei Arshavin hasn't been playing much recently for Arsenal, except for the reserves. Andrei Arshavin is not a much-loved figure at Arsenal, and both Zenit and Anzhi Makhachkala have lots of money, and are Russian teams. The Russian transfer window is open until Friday. Thus, there have been a number of unattributed transfer rumours linking Arshavin with a move back to Mother Russia. FInally, though, we have some actual, attributed quotes!

"Arshavin would interest us in terms of having him on loan," the Zenit general director, Maxim Mitrofanov, was quoted as saying by local media on Wednesday. "[Besides helping Zenit] Andrey would also be well prepared for the upcoming Euro 2012 finals. The question is what Arsenal really want, would they want a loan deal?"

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After the craptastic week we had, there are lots of negatives going around about Arsenal. So, we'll start off with the positive stuff!

The U-18s beat Fulham 3-0 on the weekend, moving 5 points clear in the Premier Academy League Group A. Josh Rees scored in the 78th minute after a fantastic Hector Bellerin cross. The attacking fullback has been very impressive since joining in the summer from Barcelona, and his Twitter account is awesome too.

Arsenal's fixture against Everton for Saturday, March 17th has been postponed because of Everton's participation in the FA Cup. The game has yet to be rescheduled, but it should be a midweek contest.

Stan Kroenke is flying into London for top level CRISIS TALKS. Actually, it's for the monthly board meeting, which coincides with the release of Arsenal's 6 month accounts, which should feature the money gained (and spent) in the last transfer window. The profit margin excluding that will be interesting; if it's above £10m (half the money Wenger says we need to make every season) I shall be very annoyed about the lack of investment last January.

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Arsène Wenger spoke to the Belgian press today regarding Lille dynamo Eden Hazard, and Arseblog News was on the case. As one would expect, the manager had only glowing things to say about the Lille man:

I like him a lot, and for several reasons. His creativity, his ability to unbalance the opposition, his vision and his consummate art of giving the final ball make him a player coveted by many.

Hazard has the right profile to play at a top level club, and Arsenal is a top level club.

Hazard is obviously one of the best young creative midfield players in the world right now, and he has spoken of his desire to play in England next season. One would have to be a fool, though, to imagine that Manchester United and Arsenal are the only possible destinations, especially given the wages that Hazard is likely to command.

There's one other thing, though, too, that Wenger said, as Arseblog notes:

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Arsenal youngster has gone on a season-long loan to Bolton, according to various sources (including Young Guns and Arseblog). According to Jamie Sanderson's tweet, Miyaichi will not be eligible to play against Arsenal in tomorrow's match for Bolton (which honestly he probably wouldn't have anyway, but still).

Miyaichi has made only two first team appearances for Arsenal this year, both in the Carling Cup. He's also started fairly regularly in the reserves side, but has been inconsistent there and has failed to break back into the first team in the way fellow young winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has. Miyaichi follows in the footsteps of Jack Wilshere (RIP) who was also loaned to Owen Coyle's side in January of 2010 (and hopefully he'll also follow in his footsteps in regards to the next year of his career, but maybe not the year after that).

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It's finally here, that Day Of Days, the transfer deadline day. At around 6pm eastern US time the window is shut, and for a few glorious days the rosterbation will end (or at least tail off a little bit) until people realize that there's another transfer window opening in only FIVE SHORT MONTHS! and start spouting off about various places Eden Hazard might get sold.

In case you can't tell, I'm going to be really happy when this is all over.

Anyway, nothing is probably going to happen with Arsenal, aside from (possibly) the official announcement of the signing of Thomas Eisfeld from Borussia Dortmund, which we talked about a bit yesterday. Still, though, here's a thread to discuss whatever does happen. It's January so there probably won't be too much (unless Chelsea and Liverpool go nuts again and buy some more strikers who can't score or Harry Redknapp tosses more of his ill-gotten cash at random people), but, you know, something interesting could go down.

So someone please keep an eye on Sky Sports News then and let me know if anything interesting happens. I'll just be sitting over here staring at Twitter for the next eight hours or so.

Arsenal appear set to sign Borussia Dortmund midfield prospect Thomas Eisfeld to a contract in the next day, according to reports in German sport newspaper Revier Sport and the Daily Mail. Although it is not yet official, Jamie Sanderson tweeted about the possible signing earlier this morning:

Follow us after the jump for more...

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According to the club's official website, Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone will reprise last season's stint in East Yorkshire, joining the Hull City FC Tigers for the remainder of the 2011-12 season:

The 23 year-old Italian also enjoyed a loan spell at the KC Stadium last term, helping the Championship side to accrue 21 points in his ten appearances. He returns to East Yorkshire hoping to continue that good form and to provide a boost to the Tigers in their bid for promotion.

21 points out of a possible 30 is a good showing, and Hull will no doubt hope that Don Vito can do similar or better in his return. Hull currently sit in sixth place in the Championship on 39 points, one point above seventh-place Blackpool, and eight points off the leaders Southampton (god, they've risen quickly, bless them Saints) and West Ham United. Cardiff, Middlesbrough, and Reading round out the current playoff spots at the top, with Leeds United, Derby, Burnley, and Crystal Palace all lurking within three points of the spots as well. There are 10 teams currently within six points of the playoff spots. The Championship is super dope, in other words.

Mannone is Arsenal's third keeper, and given the stranglehold that Wojciech Szczesny has on the top spot right now, a loan move will get him valuable playing time. He's still only 23, and he should have a good career ahead of him. Best of luck to the Don up north.