Oleksandr Zinchenko has called the 2024/25 season his worst campaign on a personal level, suggesting that he wants to be playing more regularly.
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.”
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.”
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.
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.