Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is likely to hand Andrey Arshavin a rare start against Coventry City on Wednesday night.
The Russian has played just 13 minutes of football for the Gunners this season after coming off the bench against Sunderland on the opening day of the campaign.
However, Wenger says that the 31-year-old is a model professional and will get his chance to shine in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday.
"I have personally a great respect for Andrey Arshavin because sometimes some wrong ideas circulated about him - that he doesn't care, but it's completely the opposite," Wenger told Arsenal Player.
"He is a 200% professional who works every day very hard in training. At the moment he is a victim of the high level of competition that exists for places.
"I think he has a huge respect from everybody in the dressing room, and especially from the staff. We will give him of course some competition on Wednesday night. I feel he is unhappy he does not play because deeply he loves football and he practises every day with 100% commitment. I am happy to give him some competition on Wednesday night."
Arsenal host Coventry City at the Emirates tonight.
Matt Cotton
