New Arsenal saviour about to feel the sharp side of British bureaucracy

It appears the Merseyside derby wasn’t the only tedious affair that went into extra time this week. In a Spoiler exclusive, Andrei Arshavin’s agent Dennis Lichter has revealed that the on-off-on-off-on-off-on-off-you-get-the-idea-with-that transfer was not concluded inside the 5pm Premier League deadline.

Speaking to the Spoiler from his Tel Aviv office, Lichter revealed, “It was done by the final whistle. With a little extra time.”

The agent went on to explain that the deal between Arsenal and Arshavin’s club Zenit was concluded by Monday afternoon, but complex stipulations in Arshavin’s contract meant the player was not free to leave Zenit until the following day. Lichter described the deal as, “the most complex I have ever been involved with in my sixteen years.”

As the Premier League meet this afternoon to discuss the deal, there are rumours that Aston Villa could be amongst a host of clubs to protest against the late concluding of the transfer. Lichter said he doesn’t believe Arshavin’s move could be overturned but when asked whether he would be willing to give evidence to the League if there were to be an FA enquiry, he would only say, “we will cross that bridge when we come to it.”