The ex-captain was a surprise attendee at the national side’s London base, where they are being put through their paces ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland

Arsenal forward Andreiy Arshavin surprised his former team-mates by showing up at the Russian national team’s training session on Monday, according to rsport.

Russia are currently occupying the Premier League side’s state-of-the-art Shenley Training Centre ahead of their World Cup qualifier away to Northern Ireland on Friday, before facing Brazil in a friendly at Stamford Bridge on March 26.

The 31-year-old was not called up to the squad by manager Fabio Capello, with the last of his 75 caps coming in a 1-1 draw with Ivory Coast – the Italian manager’s first in charge – in August 2012, which saw him become the subject of jeers from the crowd.

The former Zenit St Petersburg attacker has scored just once for the Gunners this season, failing to make a Premier League start in the process, and Goal.com exclusively revealed Reading were interested in the forward during January.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was also in attendance.