Hleb on hand to help Arsenal

By Denis Orlov

The €15m deal which saw Belarus midfielder Aliaksandr Hleb move from VfB Stuttgart to Arsenal FC could represent one of the most interesting transfers of the summer.

'Unique skill'
Now 24, Hleb first began to catch the eye as a 15-year-old. Nikolai Shpilevski, Hleb's agent, said: "When I first saw him play live, I could not believe my eyes. He's got a great football brain, unique skill, an immense work rate, the ability to shoot with either foot and his dribbling is incredible. On top of that, he is mentally strong. I realised right away that he was a player on a scale which Europe sees once every five years."

Instant impact
In 1999, he joined FC BATE Borisov, where he made an immediate impact in his debut season by scoring once in 13 appearances as the club won the title. Hleb added three more goals in 12 games the following term before moving to Stuttgart on the advice of the man who had first spotted his potential as a teenager, coach Aleksandr Bashmakov, after it became clear the player was destined for a far bigger stage.

Hard worker
"The offers were coming in numbers even before Aliaksandr had shown anything at all at senior level," he said. "[TSV] 1860 München and Stuttgart offered contracts straight away. In the end, Stuttgart were the first to make an offer good enough for BATE to accept," said Shpilevski. The change in level meant Hleb would take time to adapt, but hard work improving his strength meant he was soon showing his class.

Strength training
The playmaker may have won over the hearts of the Stuttgart fans in his four years in Germany, but he still comes in for some criticism when he pulls on the Belarus shirt. The national side has yet to see the best of Hleb during his 17 caps, although Belarus coach Anatoliy Baidachniy is confident he can shine in Arsenal colours. "Hleb could be a success in both Spain and England," he said. "He is not a power type of player, and when he is marked by someone physically strong he may be shut down, meaning he could have struggled in Italy. In Spain and in England they at least let you receive the ball."

Wenger influence
FC MTZ-RIPO Minsk coach Yuri Puntus, who worked with Hleb at BATE and for the Belarus Under-21 side, added: "I think the Spanish league with its attacking and technical football is a place where Hleb would have thrived," he said. "But I am happy to see him with Arsenal. This is a team with a very distinguished, uncompromising style. On top of everything, I like their coach Arsène Wenger."

Perfect platform
Hleb may be the brightest prospect to emerge from Belarus for some time but he still has a long way to go to be rated as highly as Valentin Belkevich or Sergei Aleinikov. Yet Belarussians are dreaming of him becoming as influential to their national team as Andriy Shevchenko has been to Ukraine.

Henry example
None the less, a club of Arsenal's stature can provide Hleb with the platform to become an even better player. If he has any doubts, Hleb need look no further than Thierry Henry to see what an impact Wenger could have on his career.