Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has rubbished suggestions that substituting Andrei Arshavin for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain led to the club's 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United and insists that he owes the doubters no explanation.

With the Gunners tied 1-1 after Chamberlain had assisted Robin van Persie second-half equalizer to Luis Antonio Valencia's first-half opener, Wenger brought Arshavin on to a negative reaction throughout the Emirates Stadium.

Andrei Arshavin has been supported by manager Arsene Wenger after his lazy man-marking and tackling against Luis Antonio Valencia created Danny Welbeck's match-winning goal in Manchester United's 2-1 win at Arsenal last night.

Arshavin, who infamously replaced Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to a negative reaction throughout the Emirates Stadium, has been on the receiving end of tremendous flak for lacking energy in such a massive fixture.

This January's Arsenal transfer news was relatively quiet at the Emirates Stadium, with Thierry Henry returning to the club on loan from New York Red Bulls and German teenager Thomas Eisfeld arriving from Borussia Dortmund for a modest fee.

However, activity has not always been this sedate at Arsenal, with Arsene Wenger making some surprising and at times, blockbuster signings in January.

This January's Arsenal transfer news was relatively quiet at the Emirates Stadium, with Thierry Henry returning to the club on loan from New York Red Bulls and German teenager Thomas Eisfeld arriving from Borussia Dortmund for a modest fee.

However, activity has not always been this sedate at Arsenal, with Arsene Wenger making some surprising and at times, blockbuster signings in January.

The numbers simply don't lie: Seven years without a trophy. The worst Arsenal team in ten years. Arsenal appears to be in a state of crisis, but there are yet more questions than answers concerning any resolution. Arsenal fans are demanding to know whether Arsene had access to the fat reserve account, whether he should be the target of blame and villified or else forgiven.

What is UP, Arshavin! According to Spanish newspaper, Sport, occasionally loco striker Andrei was seen on Monday in Barcelona, ??where he went to shoot a sports commercial (just like Neymar did last week) in the city. And you can officially put the 'Arshavin to Barcelona?

In a toughly contested match at the Emirates Stadium, Manchester United emerged 2-1 winners over Arsenal to move within three points of the Barclays Premier League summit.

Earlier in the day, league leaders Manchester City went six points clear at the top thanks to a late penalty kick converted by Mario Balotelli.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has made it clear that he wants to follow up his impressive Premier League debut against Manchester United by starting regularly for the Gunners.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was preferred to the likes of Andrei Arshavin and Yossi Benayoun as he was surprisingly named a started for the visit of the defending champions.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has publicly slammed Arsenal midfielder Andrei Arshavin following Sunday's match at the Emirates.

Neville, now in his role as a Sky Sports pundit, was critical of Arsene Wenger's decision to sub the effervescent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, especially as the struggling Arshavin replaced him.

It's difficult to know where to start this week's column. On the face of it, a compelling comeback from two goals down to keep our FA Cup hopes alive, followed by a point and a clean sheet away from home should constitute a reasonably good week. Yet it doesn't feel like that at all. For a start, we've put ourselves in a position now where, effectively, any draw represents two points dropped.

Match Report Video By the numbers

Despite the fact this was Thierry Henry's final Premier League appearance for the club, despite the fact he capped it with an injury time winner, and despite the fact he goes back to New York after our Champions League game against Milan in midweek, it's hard to think that the Henry Arsenal story is completely written.

What an excellent day of football we all had yesterday, starting with the controversial Manchester United, Liverpool match at Old Trafford , and a result that went our way with Liverpool losing 2-1.

I am not so sure about all the Suarez, Evra hype though as it is obvious that there is bad blood between the two of them, but to the credit of Evra he was willing to shake Suarez's hand before the match, but Suarez refused.

The numbers simply don't lie: Seven long years without a trophy. Comments regarding the team's demise have been loaded with vitriol: "The worst Arsenal team in ten years," for instance. Arsenal as a team appears to be in a state of crisis, but there are yet more questions than answers concerning any resolution.

Good morning,

last night I dreamt I was making a movie in New York, funded by mafia money, and it would have all been fine if it wasn't for the fact that David Thewlis was an inveterate lush. I can never go to New York again lest someone who sounds like Joe Mantegna comes after me for the $76 they gave me to make the film.

Arsenal FC's out-of-favour attacking midfielder Andrei Arshavin is on the radar of his former club Zenit St. Petersburg, the Russian club's officials have confirmed.

Coach Arsene Wenger signed Arshavin from his hometown club in January 2009 for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £15 million.

Arsenal FC's out-of-favour attacking midfielder Andrei Arshavin is on the radar of his former club Zenit St. Petersburg, the Russian club's officials have confirmed.

Coach Arsene Wenger signed Arshavin from his hometown club in January 2009 for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £15 million.

He came. He scored. He helped saved a season. He charmed everyone with his "I am Goonar!", his cheeky owl grin and high-pitched chuckle.

He has left. Overweight. Unhappy. Nobody particularly enamoured with his run-when-he-wants attitude, that owl scowl hidden beneath a scarf and a hat as he spent the final part of his Arsenal career on the bench, the jeers of that untimely substitution against United still echoing.

There are not many football fans expecting to see the name of Russia engraved on the Euro 2012 Trophy this year but the Russian team, managed by former Glasgow Rangers manager, Dick Advocaat, are certainly capable of going a long way in the competition and should not be written off from raising a few eye [.

Young Gunners to Play NextGen Tournament

Arsenal FC have decided to enter their youth team in this year's NextGen youth football tournament. Last year's inaugural version of the tournament, which was won by Inter Milan, boosted the participating teams' young players' confidence and therefore, the Gunners have also decided to join it.

Even when you're 30 (and on loan), it's just child's play.

Ten members of the Arsenal first-team have been called up and will be flying out to Ukraine and Poland to represent their respective countries in this summer's European Championships. Euro 2012 kicks off in just under two weeks time when Greece take on co-hosts Poland in Warsaw on June 8th.