Andrei's Extra Time Deal

Andrei Arshavin's protracted transfer from Zenit St. Petersburg to Arsenal was still to be ratified on Tuesday by the Premier League.


Arshavin has starred for both Zenit and Russia in the last few seasons.

The 27-year-old had been linked with the Gunners throughout the transfer window and flew into Britain on Sunday for a medical at north London club.

The transfer could not be processed before Monday's 5pm deadline, but it was reported that the necessary paperwork was submitted in time, allowing the move to be officially completed.

However, a Premier League spokesman told CNN that there were "still a number a transfers that require clearance by the Premier League board."

The 27-year-old Arshavin was set to be the only major deal completed by Arsenal in the January window and the fee for the player is believed to be between £12-15 million pounds, which would be an Arsenal club record.

Assuming the deal is completed, manager Arsene Wenger will be hoping he can show the form which underpinned Russia's superb performances in Euro 2008 and Zenit's triumph in the UEFA Cup final against Glasgow Rangers last May.

Arshavin was identified early on as the club's number one target as Wenger looked to compensate for the losses of long-term injury absentees Cesc Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott.

Wenger, who prefers to develop talent rather than rely on big money transfers, said at the weekend that he was not looking for an "instant savior" but has moved after his side slipped five points off the top four and Champions League qualification.

Arsenal's home FA Cup fourth round replay with Cardiff was called off on Tuesday due to poor weather, but the domestic cup competition and the Champions League appear their best hope of honors this season.

Meanwhile, one late deal which was completed saw Chelsea sign Portugal international winger Ricardo Quaresma on loan from Inter Milan until the end of the season.

Quaresma, a member of Portugal's Euro 2008 squad when Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari was in charge, endured an unhappy spell with the Serie A champions after being signed by Jose Mourinho at the start of the season.

The 25-year-old was also Chelsea's only signing of the January transfer window and he will join a five-strong Portuguese contingent at the west London club.

Queresma had looked set to join city rivals Tottenham Hotspur, with reports suggesting England midfielder Jermaine Jenas would move the other way, but he opted for Chelsea at the last minute.

Scolari will hope he shows the form which made Inter pay Porto nearly $24 million to secure his services and will give him an extra wide option after the long-term injury to Joe Cole.

Chelsea, once the big-spenders in the transfer market with the backing of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich, dropped five points behind leaders Manchester United with a 2-0 loss in the Premier League on Sunday to Liverpool, but are still in the FA Cup and Champions League.

EL MATADORI DOES IT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!

The Pirate at the Gates of Dawn

Do you remember this old Pink Floyd tune? The Piper at the Gates of Dawn? That’s the song I remembered all day, here is why…

Imagine yourself to be the master and commander of this beautiful kingdom. Everything was perfect except one small clay tomb that was missing, on top of the cathedral, up north outside. You always thought, you will eventually get the clay tomb one fine day in the future.

But other than that, everything was fine…you had what you want, you have a lovely life with a beautiful queen who supports you every step along the way. You love her more than life in itself, you are blessed with a plethora of talent, profuse of class, and grace.

You were No. 1 with some of the most adoring, loyal fans one can ever get, life was always the way it always was supposed to be. You had to encounter certain challenges along the way, but when all is said and done, this was ALMOST a fairy-tale, the one about this beautiful Swiss Kingdom.

But there is a small problem, fairy-tales only exist in our imagination…not reality.

Then one fine morning you woke up, and heard a ratting miles up north, outside the gates. A new, young, yet charismatic pirate was in town, you heard. He was a one trick pony, they said—and at the beginning you paid him no mind, nor should you have.

He kept possession of the clay tomb, that you so much craved for…and years went by, he kept collecting a number of clay tombs. He beat you to it every time. Now, you began to think of him as a problem—more of a one-dimensional, annoying one rather than an ominous one.

You always liked the pirate, and marginally begrudged him for keeping you away from consummate undoubted pantheon of unquestionable greatness…but you still did not think of him as a true rival.

Things changed…

Last June the pirate broke open the front gates of your kingdom. He was no more a one trick pony. It was fine, we thought, it is a big deal yes, but it was probably one of those things, that has a less than decent probability of happening again. The king went on to far Western American lands, and captured more territories. But the pirate was getting closer…

Then yesterday, the pirate broke open the front door, and then it hit the king, in that one moment that this captivating pirate is here to stay. He has broken into your front gates and front door in less than a year. Something had to be done—but you aren’t quite sure on what is it that you can do?