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Arsenal flop Andrei Arshavin seals Zenit St Petersburg return
FORMER Arsenal player Andrei Arshavin has rejoined former club Zenit St Petersburg after being released at the Emirates.
Arshavin was linked with a host of European outfits this summer - with Fulham also an option for him to stay in England - but the 32-year-old has chosen to return to the only other club he has played for
The experienced Russian left Zenit for Arsenal for a fee of £15million in 2009, but headed back to the Petrovsky Stadium last year for a loan spell.
Arshavin, who has agreed a two-year deal, said on the Zenit website: "I am very glad that it happened. I am glad to get back to the city. It's good to wear the Zenit shirt. I just want to play football."
"Of course, I want to return to the national team. I do not know whether being at Zenit helps this or not. I just want to play football. And I want to do it in my hometown."
The diminutive forward made 144 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 31 times over the course of five seasons - including all four against Liverpool at Anfield in April 2009.