I think I'm an Arsenal player, says Andrei Arshavin as Premier League make Gunners sweat on their new No 23

Andrei Arshavin says he 'thinks' he is an Arsenal player – but his transfer from Zenit St Petersburg has still not been signed off by the Premier League.

• All parties believe they completed the deal in time for Monday’s 5pm deadline, but Sportsmail understands that the paperwork could not be processed at Premier League HQ due to insufficient staffing.
• As the 27-year-old awaits on official confirmation, he already has his eye on the vacant No 23 shirt.
• Arshavin is used to wearing the No 10, but with that already taken by former Arsenal skipper William Gallas, he will instead use the number associated with David Beckham and Michael Jordan – two iconic sportsmen who he would be happy to compare himself with.
• His personal website crashed on deadline day, but was restored today with a cautious message from Arshavin.
• Asked if he was an Arsenal player, he said: ‘I think so. The negotiations came to a close and there will be details [on Tuesday]. Now I can say only one thing – that if I play  for Arsenal, it will be at No 23.’
• Zenit St Petersburg also posted a story on their website saying the deal was done, though curiously it was a reproduction of a Russian news wire report rather than an official club statement.
• It read: ‘Zenit, Arsenal and Andrei Arshavin have concluded talks in London. An FC Zenit source has informed Fontanka (news agency) that the talks were successful, and Andrei Arshavin is moving to Arsenal. The signed documents have already been sent to the [Premier League].’
• The report claimed that the transfer is worth £16.9million to them, but Sportsmail understands that Arsenal will pay just £10m up front, with another £2m in success-related add-ons.