Arshavin tips off Arsenal title rivals

The Russian international joined the Emirates Stadium outfit at the beginning of February for £15 million, and enjoyed an explosive start to his Premier League career, netting six league goals in 12 appearances, including four against Liverpool at Anfield.

And the former Zenit St Petersburg playmaker - who has recently denied reports linking him with a quick return to Russia - says Rafael Benitez and Sir Alex Ferguson should ensure more Russian internationals are playing in the Premier League by landing two of Guus Hiddink's regulars for the national team.

“Given that [Edwin] Van der Sar will not be around forever, Ferguson is most in need of a goalkeeper,” Arshavin told Sport Express.

“I therefore advise him to sign [Igor] Akinfeev.

"And Liverpool? Perhaps [Aleksandr] Anyukov.”

23-year-old Akinfeev is currently a one-club man having played more than 100 league games for CSKA Moscow, earning 31 caps for Russia.

While Anyukov, 26, plies his trade as a right-sided full-back for Arshavin's former club Zenit, making 95 league appearances - scoring seven times - since joining from Krylia Sovetov Samara in 2005.

He has been capped 42 times by his country.

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Gregg Davies

Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.