Ahead of Tuesday night’s game, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Arsenal’s dynamic left-back, reflected on his formative time at PSV Eindhoven, emphasising its significance in his career and personal life.
Speaking at a press conference in the Philips Stadium ahead of Arsenal’s final group match in the Champions League, Zinchenko fondly recalled his season with the Dutch club in 2016/2017.
Zinchenko, now a key figure in Arsenal’s squad, said, “It was a great experience for me. It was a very important year in my career.
“If you look at the stats, I haven’t played that much, but honestly, I couldn’t have had this experience anywhere else like I did here.
“If someone asks me something about PSV, I will always say something positive, because it has been fantastic here. In terms of football but also in terms of life.
“After I left PSV, I went back a few times for holidays, because I made friends here. For a young player, it was a great place to develop myself.”
Zinchenko also praised his former PSV teammate, Luuk de Jong, noting his professionalism and aerial prowess. “Luuk is an incredible professional. With his head, he is one of the very best players. I once joked to him that if he goes alone to the goalkeeper, it is best to give the ball a bounce so that he can head it in. With all due respect, of course, because he is a good friend and a great player,” he remarked.
Arsenal, under the guidance of manager Mikel Arteta, will change their lineup due to injuries and illnesses affecting players such as Fabio Vieira, Thomas Partey, Jurriën Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Gabriel Martinelli.
It’s expected that players like Jakub Kiwior, Mohamed Elneny, Reuell Walters, Cédric Soares, and Reiss Nelson will step into starting roles for the match.
Arteta remains optimistic about his team’s ability despite these changes as he expressed his commitment to winning every match, while acknowledging PSV’s impressive season. “The job is done, but it is not completely finished yet. As Arsenal, we owe it to our position to want to win every match. That won’t be easy against this opponent, because what PSV has shown this season is very impressive. They are extremely dominant. The credits for that go to their manager,” Arteta said.
Arteta also updated on Jurriën Timber’s recovery from a cruciate ligament injury. “It is a serious injury, but he is doing well. He works very hard every day. It’s very satisfying to see that, he’s recovering very quickly. Unfortunately, we will miss him for a long time. With this injury, the first steps are very important, they go well. He is getting his strength back and mentally he is also in very good shape,” he elaborated.
Arsenal’s approach, integrating new players into the lineup and focusing on each match with a determination to win, demonstrates the club’s depth and adaptability. As they face PSV, Arsenal continues to uphold their high standards and commitment to excellence, driven by the leadership of Arteta and the contributions of players like Zinchenko.