Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger insists he is not freezing out Andrey Arshavin.

The 31-year-old has been restricted to 13 minutes of first-team action so far this season.

"I have personally a great respect for Andrey Arshavin because sometimes some wrong ideas are circulated about him - that he doesn't care, but it's completely the opposite. He's a 200 per cent professional who works very hard in training every day," he told Arsenal Player.

"At the moment he's a victim of the high level of competition that exists for places. He has a huge respect from everybody in the dressing room, and especially from the staff.

"I feel he's unhappy that he doesn't play because deeply he loves football and he practices every day with 100 per cent commitment. I'm happy to give him some competition on Wednesday night."