Andrey Arshavin stuns Arsenal by revealing he feels like quitting football ahead of crucial Chelsea clash

Andrey Arshavin last night stunned Arsenal as he revealed he feels like quitting football after Russia’s World Cup exit.

Pocket dynamo Arshavin only came off the bench as the Gunners slipped to a potentially crushing defeat at Sunderland last week although he played in the midweek win over Standard Liege.

But with Arsene Wenger’s side needing to beat Chelsea at the Emirates tomorrow to remain in the title frame, a depressed Arshavin admitted he has lost all his appetite for the game after Russia’s defeat by Slovenia.

Arshavin said: “I am inconsolable and desolate at what has happened.

“My family keep telling me that I should forget it as soon as possible, that I should now switch to the club matters and the Champions League but that’s easier said than done.

“Nothing revives me so far. When Arsene Wenger asked me what state I was in, I honestly told him that at the moment I just do not want to play football at all.

“He talked to me for a long time. He said, too, that I need to switch my attention. But I cannot do it yet.”

Wenger admitted Arshavin, who has scored six goals so far this campaign, was having major problems in coming to terms with his World Cup heartbreak.

The Gunners chief said: “He is very down. He came back from Slovenia very down and that’s the main reason I did not play him from the start against Sunderland.

“You want them to be 100 per cent focused, play a game like it’s life or death. So it is impossible not to be down if you don’t win.

“If you care, you are down.  Arshavin is captain, he is 28, at the next World Cup he is 33. He is a tough boy. He is mentally okay, but he is down and is still disappointed for his country.

“He is a winner, though, and strong mentally and when his back is to the wall he responds.”

Arshavin also returned dogged by claims he went on a drinking spree before the second leg, had rowed with Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko in the dressing room and fallen out with Russia boss Guus Hiddink.

"I use the word rubbish about these allegations,” said Arshavin. “Such gossip cannot be taken seriously. Do the people who spread this think we are crazy, to be killing our own dream? It is all an absurdity.”