Lack of confidence is what hampers Andrey Arshavin from showing off all of his potential, believes Arsenal coach, Arsene Wenger.

­“I think what he [Arshavin] needs more is confidence,” Wenger told the London club’s official website. “He had a difficult end of season last year and I believe since a few weeks now, he is in very good form.”

Arshavin has been feeling the lack of a place in the Gunners’ starting lineup, scoring just once since the start of the current English Premier League season.

“I rotate more the strikers than anybody else and Andrey, you cannot fault,” the coach added.

Wenger also pointed out that Arshavin has an unfair reputation, and he still considers the Russian a true professional.  

“There is a difference between the image that Andrey has and who he is really is,” the 61-yer-old specialist stressed. “He is a very conscientious and hard worker in training. Sometimes he has an image as a little bit of a non-caring person and that is not at all [the case]. He is 100 per cent a professional player.”

Wenger added that Arshavin is likely to get his chance to appear in Arsenal’s clash with Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday.