Oleksandr Zinchenko has called the 2024/25 season his worst campaign on a personal level, suggesting that he wants to be playing more regularly.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 12: Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal scores his team's first goal as Walter Benitez of PSV Eindhoven (obscured) fails to make a save during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and PSV at Arsenal Stadium on March 12, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Writing in his autobiography Believe, Oleksandr Zinchenko has reflected negatively on his most recent season as an Arsenal player.
“I was basically out of the starting XI altogether, bar a few isolated matches,” Zinchenko said (via The Athletic). “In pure personal terms, it was easily the worst season I ever experienced as a professional.
“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.
“Every footballer started playing because they love to play the game. A big part of your life is missing without it.”
LONDON, ENGLAND: Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal applauds the fans at the end of the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2024. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Zinchenko admitted he has to take his share of the blame for his own situation, but added that he wants to be playing football.
“I’ve never been a player who runs to the manager, complains or asks tonnes of questions,” Zinchenko insisted. “I can only blame myself. If I don’t play, it means that I didn’t work hard enough, didn’t do enough, didn’t play well enough.
“Let’s see what time will bring. Because I still want to play football. I want to enjoy the game and come back with a smile on my face in the evening.”
LONDON, ENGLAND: Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal takes his coat off after the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between Arsenal FC and FC Shakhtar Donetsk at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2024. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Recent reports have suggested that Zinchenko is considering running down the final year of his contract at Arsenal before leaving as a free agent, and those are claims repeated in The Athletic’s post on the new quotes.
James McNicholas writes that the left-back is open to moving for the right opportunity, but whilst that could be now, it could also be in 12 months’ time on a free transfer.
Yet that stance is seemingly inconsistent with Zinchenko’s comments. If he wants to be playing regularly, it doesn’t seem likely that will be with Arsenal this season.
DUSSELDORF, GERMANY: Oleksandr Zinchenko of Ukraine controls the ball during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Slovakia and Ukraine at Düsseldorf Arena on June 21, 2024. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
The 28-year-old was involved in the Gunners’ pre-season schedule of friendly matches, but not as an obvious starter:
AC Milan: 45-minute start
Newcastle United: 13-minute sub appearance
Spurs: 13-minute sub appearance
Villarreal: 13-minute sub appearance
Athletic Club: 0 minutes
With Riccardo Calafiori now back fit and Myles Lewis-Skelly available as well, Zinchenko will surely need to move on if he wants a starting role again.
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