Andrey loves to sit on his Arsh

AVIN FUN ... Andrey Arshavin takes his usual seat in the dugout

ANDREY ARSHAVIN will go down as one of Arsene Wenger’s worst signings when he leaves the Emirates at the end of the season.

The Russian is now approaching the final two months of his contract and
Arsenal are happy for him to go on a free.

There were even reports he would RETIRE from football — but privately he was shocked at suggestions he would hang up his boots.

The 31-year-old Russian has been sat on his Arsh while the Gunners have been forcing their way back within sight of the Champions League places.

He has played just once in 2013 — a 15-minute appearance in January’s 2-1 loss at Chelsea.

Considering he trousers a whopping £95,000 a week, Arsenal fans have hardly been getting a return on their massive ticket prices.

Over the course of the season he has been paid a staggering £7,800 per minute for his 341 minutes played.

And since the turn of the year that figure has shot up to £30,000 every 60 seconds.

So why would anyone hang up their boots when they can pocket that amount of cash?

With the World Cup in Brazil next year the lure of another contract elsewhere could keep him playing.

But his Arsenal career is fizzling out after four years and he now ranks as a bigger flop than the likes of Igors Stepanovs and Christopher Wreh.

He cost Wenger a record £15million and he was seen as the final part of the jigsaw for the Gunners.

This was not a diamond in the rough that Wenger had unearthed like Patrick
Vieira. Arsenal fans had got a good look at him dazzling at Euro 2008 the year before he arrived.

England had not qualified for the tournament and it was Arshavin and Russia who caught the imagination.

Wenger fought off stiff competition to land the playmaker from Zenit with
Tottenham also in the running.

Arshavin scored all four goals in the 4-4 draw at Liverpool a few months after arriving — then he struggled for consistency.

Last season he was sent back to Zenit on loan in another clear sign he was not wanted.

And this term Wenger said he would not play Arshavin on the flanks as he struggles to get up and down the pitch.

The French boss admitted: “When he works on the flank it’s sometimes working against him, he has to work too hard up and down.”

Now he is not playing at all...