Arsene Wenger's £15 million signing from Zenit St Petersburg has exploded onto the Premier League scene since arriving at the beginning of February, netting six goals in eight games including four against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday.
And Kanchelskis, who joined Manchester United from Shakhtar Donetsk in 1991 and made 123 appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson, admits he has been astonished by the impact Arshavin has already made in England, and is confident the best is yet to come from the diminutive playmaker.
“Arshavin is lucky to join Arsenal, a good club with a good coach who tries to play football," he said.
“But he’ll need more time before he can play his best every week. It’s a new life, not just a new team.
“I can remember how it was when I arrived. There is a different mentality, a different language, different foods, even driving on the left instead of the right. In a year he’ll improve.
“He needs the chance to learn the language, that’s important.”
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