Latest Nottingham Forest news as Arsenal loanee Oleksandr Zinchenko discusses his Reds loan
06:00, 20 Dec 2025
Nottingham Forest's Oleksandr Zinchenko
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Nottingham Forest's Oleksandr Zinchenko(Image: Getty)
Oleksandr Zinchenko is eager to make the most of the second half of the season at Nottingham Forest amid uncertainty over his long-term future.
The Arsenal full-back is spending the campaign at the City Ground after signing for the Reds on deadline day in the summer. His is a straight loan deal, with no clauses inserted regarding a potential permanent move.
Injury has hampered the defender during his time Trentside and he made his comeback from a spell on the sidelines in last week’s Europa League win over Utrecht. He does not know what will happen come the summer, when he is set to return to the Gunners, but is focused on doing well in the Garibaldi in the meantime.
“I don’t know yet, we’ll see,” Zinchenko said when asked about his future. “We just need to go step by step and work hard.
“I feel amazing (at Forest). It is a big club with amazing people around.
“I must use this opportunity to say a massive thanks to all the fans for the warm welcome. I really feel I need to give much more to the club.”
Zinchenko sustained a groin injury in what was Sean Dyche’s first match in charge, against Porto. Forest went on to win 2-0 that day and have continued their turnaround in fortunes since.
Dyche became the club’s third manager of the campaign when he was appointed in October but has overseen an upturn in results in both the Premier League and in Europe. Zinchenko knows the importance of keeping momentum going as the Reds aim to climb the table on the domestic front and progress on the continent.
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“It is always better when you have results. Every single time we get some points, we are so excited for the next one,” the 29-year-old said ahead of Monday’s trip to Fulham (8pm kick-off). “We just need to go step by step and see where we finish.
“Every single game is very important for us. We are going to give our best to try to get the three points, which is what we want.
“Every day we work so hard to get our fitness levels to the level they should be at. We all know that in modern football, you have to be fully ready. You have to be a great athlete first and then the rest that goes with it will come.”
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Dyche’s side have a busy run of games over the festive period. They have to wait until mid-January for their return to Europa League action, with two more matches to play in a bid to finish in the top eight and go straight through to the knockout stages of the tournament.
“It is always an amazing feeling to compete in European football,” Zinchenko added. “We need to do the best we can, so we want to get points from our last couple of games to qualify straight away.”
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