I will not tail off like Baptista, says four-goal hero Arshavin

Historical precedent weighs heavy on Andrei Arshavin who said yesterday that he did not want his career to follow the same downward curve as Julio Baptista, the last Arsenal player to score four goals at Anfield. The Russian international, who scored all Arsenal's goals in the 4-4 draw on Tuesday, said that his best is yet to come when he finally gets a pre-season for his new club.

Baptista scored four goals for Arsenal in a Carling Cup tie at Anfield in January 2007 that his side won 6-3. Arshavin said that he hoped to be at the club longer than the famously homesick Brazilian, now playing at Roma. "I was told that Julio Baptista did it here in the Carling Cup but after that he finished playing for Arsenal," Arshavin said. "I want to keep playing after this.

"These games are still difficult for me," he added. "If you look at the first half against Liverpool, you never saw me at all – until I scored the first goal in one moment. It is difficult and I am trying but I still need time.

"Everybody needs to learn to play with each other. I am a player and I need time and I have to go through pre-season and everything will be in a good place then, so I will be better. But so, I think, will the team be. And for me that is more important than just me being better."