Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko has admitted that Gunners manager Mikel Arteta no longer believes in him following the emergence of Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The 18-year-old England international has established himself as first-choice left-back ahead of the 28-year-old Ukraine international at the Emirates Stadium club.
Zinchenko started just seven times for Arsenal across the Premier League and Champions League last term, and he says the 2024-25 campaign was easily the worst season he has ever experienced as a professional.
“A player who doesn’t play is nothing,” he wrote in a new chapter for his updated autobiography, Believe.
“It’s one thing when your body lets you down. That can happen. But going from one of the established players of the side to unused sub is much harder to deal with. The sense of rejection you feel if your manager no longer believes in you can take the stuffing out of you, even if you’re the most resilient guy on the planet.
“He (Lewis-Skelly) came in and made the left-back position his. He’s a special talent. Such a good player. What he’s done is unbelievable, really.”
The Arsenal academy graduate was a regular in the starting XI for the majority of last season, starting 22 times as the Gunners made strong challenges across the elite European competition and league.
He is expected to retain his spot and Zinchenko could be on his way out if a serious buyer arrives before the end of the summer transfer window.
Fenerbahce have reportedly made an official offer for the former Manchester City star, with their manager Jose Mourinho looking to use him in the number 6 role.
However, there is also a possibility that he will leave Arsenal as a free agent next summer with a contract extension not on the cards if he remains at the North London club beyond this summer.