The Weekend Dossier: Arshavin has familiar company as Russia’s Premier League restarts – Roman Pavlyuchenko will be playing for Lokomotiv Moscow

Zenit St Petersburg 3 Benfica 2

As Alan Pardew prepared to bid farewell to another of his cornerstone players yesterday, with Jose Enrique at Anfield finalising a £6m move, the Newcastle manager was refusing to resign himself to Joey Barton following the Spanish left-back – plus Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan – through the exit door at St James' Park. The chances are that Barton, having tweeted his way on to the transfer list with his criticism of the Tyneside club, will be winging his way away from the Magpies before deadline day. Still, Pardew has planned more peace talks with the disaffected midfielder, who he has yet to rule out of contention for bench duty for the match at home to Arsenal tomorrow.

Andrey Arshavin admits it would be an "enormous" loss for Arsenal to see captain Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri leave, but insists focus must remain on ending the Gunners' trophy drought.

Shaun Walker reports from a land where football could be a matter of life and death

Andrey Arshavin would be welcome back at Zenit St Petersburg if Arsenal decide to sell the striker, the Russian club have confirmed.

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has accused Liverpool of not wanting to sign Charlie Adam enough.

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway expects captain Charlie Adam to be as committed and professional as ever after the midfielder failed to secure a move from Bloomfield Road.

"We put the welcome mat out last time and our welcome was abused," said the leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese. "We will not be putting it out this time."

Andrei Arshavin believes he has become "more effective" since joining Arsenal, even if the Russian playmaker feels he is now "less sparkling".

Manchester United have said that Owen Hargreaves has still not returned to his club from the care of a surgeon in the United States – a development which underlines that his inclusion in the club's Premier League squad may not provide any real reassurance about his chances of playing again.

Sir Alex Ferguson is convinced there will be no repeat of the violence that blighted Rangers' last visit to Manchester when the Glasgow giants head south for a Champions League meeting with United on September 14.