Profile Andrey Arshavin and his career before Arsenal

Russian midfielder Andrei Ashavin has finally completed his long-mooted transfer to Arsenal, joining the Gunners from Zenit St Petersburg for a fee believed to be in the region of £15m.

FULL NAME: Andrey Sergeyevich Arshavin

NATIONALITY: Russian

BORN: May 29 1981. Saint Petersburg, Russia

AGE: 27

HEIGHT / WEIGHT: 172cm / 62kg

PREVIOUS CLUBS: Zenit St Petersburg (2000– January 2009) 232 appearances (51 goals)

CLUB HONOURS: 2003 Russian Premier League Cup
2007 Russian Premier League
2008 Russian Super Cup
2008 UEFA Cup
2008 UEFA Super Cup

TRANSFER DETAILS: Long-term contract for an undisclosed fee

POSITION: Midfielder

INTERNATIONAL CAREER: Russia (2002 - Present) 41 appearances (15 goals)

INTERNATIONAL DEBUT: May 17 2002 v Belarus (International friendly, in Moscow, Russia) 1-1, Belarus won 5-4 on pens.

FIRST INTERNATIONAL GOAL: February 13 2003 v Romania (International friendly, in Limassol, Cyprus) Scored third goal in 4-2 Russia victor



Here's everything you need to know about the Premier League's latest star:


1981 - May 29: Born, Leningrad, USSR (now Saint Petersburg, Russia).

1988: Andrey starts playing football at the age of seven.

1999-2000: Played for Zenit’s ‘farm club’, Zenit-2 in the Second Division.

2000 - August 2: Makes debut for Zenit St Petersburg in 3-0 win over Bradford City at Valley Parade.

2001: Runner-up in Russian Footballer of the Year.

2002 - May 17: Makes international debut for Russia in 1-1 friendly draw with Belarus in Moscow. Russia lose 5-4 on penalties.

2002: Runner-up in Russian Footballer of the Year.

2003 - February 13: Scores first international goal. Russia’s third in a 4-2 friendly victory over Romania played in Limassol, Cyprus.

2004: Runner-up in Russian Footballer of the year.

2004 - October 9: Scores first competitive international goal. Russia’s second in a 4-0 victory in 2006 FIFA World Cup Qualifying.

2005: Named Russian Footballer of the Year.

2006: Named Russian Footballer of the Year.

2007: starts all 30 matches as Zenit St Petersburg win their first Russian Premier League title since 1984.

2008 - April 5: Alongside Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, Arshavin carries the Olympic Torch through St. Petersburg, for the flame’s first appearance in the city since the 1980 Moscow Summer Games.

2008: Instrumental in Zenit’s UEFA Cup winning team.

2008: Included in Guus Hiddink’s Euro 2008 squad.

2008 - June 18: After missing Russia’s first two Group D games against Spain and Greece, Arshavin returns for their third and final match with Sweden. After setting up the first goal he scores the second in a 2-0 win. Named man of the match.

2008 - June 21: Arshavin repeats the heroics from the Group stages in the Quarter Final against Netherlands. With the scores tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes, he creates Russia’s second goal and adds their third in extra time. Named man of the match.

June - 30 2008: Named in the four-man striking unit of the Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament.

2008 - August 29: Arshavin plays the second half as Zenit beat Manchester United in the Uefa Super Cup.

2008 - October 19: Arshavin named on shortlist for 2008 Ballon D’Or.