Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko, drawing from his Ukrainian heritage, issued a rallying cry for the Gunners ahead of the new Premier League season: avoid the lingering regret of near misses and carve their own path to success, rather than simply emulating champions Manchester City.

Zinchenko, who enjoyed a trophy-laden six-year stint at Manchester City, acknowledged the daunting standard set by Pep Guardiola‘s squad, stating, “How much City pushed us in the last two years shows how demanding the league is and where the level is.”

However, he cautioned against merely replicating their approach, emphasising the need for Arsenal to establish their own identity and surpass their rivals. “We don’t need to copy someone like City,” he said. “Of course, at the moment they are probably the best team in the world and you always need to look at the best. But you don’t want to be like them, we need to be on top of them.”

The Ukrainian international, who joined Arsenal for £30 million in 2022, expressed his belief in the club’s trajectory under Mikel Arteta, stating, “Mikel and his staff are doing an amazing job here. You can see the progress. I really hope and believe that in the close future, the club can achieve a lot of good things.”

Zinchenko’s words resonate with a sense of urgency and ambition within the Arsenal camp. After narrowly missing out on the Premier League title in the past two seasons, the Gunners are determined to learn from their mistakes and push for glory.

The Ukrainian phrase he used, “don’t end up biting your elbows,” encapsulates the frustration of missed opportunities and serves as a reminder of the importance of seizing every chance to achieve their goals.

Zinchenko’s unique perspective, having experienced success with both Manchester City and Arsenal, adds weight to his message. It’s a clear statement that Arsenal are not content with simply competing; they are hungry to surpass their rivals and reclaim their place at the pinnacle of English football.

The defender also spoke about another dream he has – of opening a restaurant back in his home country with his wife.

“It was our dream to make something special in our home and the place we feel most comfortable, in Kiev, in Ukraine,” he said. “We have been working, especially my wife, super hard to get it done.

“I know it is the toughest time of our independent time as a country and maybe it is not the ideal timing to start a new business but still we believe the war will finish very soon and this will be there.

“A football career is too short,” he added. “You don’t realise it until it is done.

“I am 27 and I can feel how time flies. While you are working so hard, you are earning money that you need to invest in the right way. While you are a football player, you have a lot of different things you can do to waste your money, to put it into the bin and buy a lot of different stuff.

“In this case, my wife has helped me to do the right thing.”