Arshavin told Wenger 'I do not run', reveals Frimpong

Emmanuel Frimpong has been discussing his former team-mate at Arsenal. This summer Emmanuel Frimpong made a surprise switch to Russian football. He joined FC Ufa on a free transfer after a failed trial at Sturm Graz and release from Barnsley – despite only joining The Tykes six months earlier.

With a switch to Russia from an Arsenal player who spent a lot of time with one of their greatest sons Frimpong was always going to field plenty of Andrei Arshavin questions after his switch.

This week has been no different.

In an interview with Sports he was asked about his relationship with Arshavin and the Russian’s often up and down time at The Emirates.

When previously asked on this topic Frimpong admitted to once calling him a ‘fat, lazy bum’ something the pair later laughed about.

Again, Frimpong had kind words about his former Arsenal team-mate – but still made it clear that working hard was not part of his modus operandi.

“Yes, he’s a great guy. One of the best players who was at Arsenal, his passing was a great loss. Although at the time of his departure, he did not play so often, but still – one of the best players who ever appeared in Russia.

“At Arsenal, he scored a lot, gave a lot, I would never have said that his purchase was a mistake. Because it was full of players who have purchased used for about ever larger money, and they did not show even half of what Andrei showed…

“He is very funny and very loud guy. And he never ran. I remember one match before Wenger told him that now they need to run. And he was like ‘I do not [run].’ But maybe he was just very very tired! Although without the ball, he still never really ran, so that running was not exactly one of his strengths. But in the attack, he was always good…”

Considering Arshavin openly refused to track back, you can understand why Wenger let his contract expire last summer.