Former Gunner Oleksandr Zinchenko is out for the season with an ACL injury at Ajax, requiring surgery that will also see him miss the World Cup this summer.
Ajax confirmed the bad news on Monday that Oleksandr Zinchenko will require surgery on a knee injury, with the operation to take place in the near future and confirmation that the former Arsenal left-back won’t play again this season.
Fabrizio Romano adds that the knee injury is an ACL problem, with Zinchenko also set to miss the World Cup this summer.
Ukraine haven’t yet qualified for the World Cup, but they have the chance to do so in March. Zinchenko will now miss those vital qualifiers as well as the final tournament.
Arsenal completed the €1.5m sale of Zinchenko to Ajax in the January transfer window, cashing in on the left-back before his deal expired in June.
Zinchenko quickly joined the Ajax matchday squad for a game against AZ Alkmaar the week before last, coming on as a substitute in a 1-1 draw. He was then named in the starting lineup for a game against Fortuna Sittard on Saturday.
Unfortunately, the defender’s home debut for Ajax didn’t last long, as less than three minutes into the match he injured his knee in a clash with Dimitrios Limnios.
The 29-year-old was immediately substituted, limping from the field with the assistance of medical staff supporting him on either side. He seemed to be in real pain as he came off, and the worst fears about the injury have now sadly been confirmed.