Why Oleksandr Zinchenko captained Arsenal vs Leicester

Oleksandr Zinchenko has been a transformative determine at Arsenal since becoming a member of the north London giants in the summertime.

The Ukraine worldwide left reigning Premier League champions Manchester City to hyperlink up with Mikel Arteta and Gabriel Jesus on the Emirates. He has helped the Gunners right into a two-point lead on the summit of England’s high flight, turning into a key a part of their common beginning XI at left again.

He has introduced a successful tradition to Arsenal and his standing within the squad as a frontrunner has solely grown all through the season.

Martin Odegaard is Arsenal’s everlasting captain, bringing an finish to a collection of botched appointments, however he won’t put on the armband for Saturday’s journey to Leicester City.

Arsenal confirmed with a membership assertion Zinchenko had been given the captain’s armband as a nod to the primary anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The assertion reads: “Alex Zinchenko is our captain in the present day, as a mark of respect and love on the primary anniversary of the battle in Ukraine.”

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted within the deaths of tens of 1000’s of Ukrainians. Countries all over the world have imposed sanctions on Russia, with the United States doing so lately to mark the one-year anniversary.

Zinchenko beforehand spoke of the devastating impact of Russia’s invasion in May 2022 earlier than Ukraine’s World Cup playoff fixture towards Scotland.

“Every Ukrainian needs one factor – to cease this struggle,” Zinchenko stated. “I’ve spoken with individuals from all all over the world, from completely different nations, and in addition some Ukrainian children, who simply don’t perceive what is going on again in Ukraine.

“They solely need the struggle to cease. They have one dream – to cease the struggle. When it involves soccer, the Ukrainian workforce have their very own dream: we wish to go to the World Cup. We wish to give unimaginable feelings to the Ukrainian individuals as a result of Ukrainians deserve it a lot at this very second.”

He was additionally hearted by information of Scotland followers singing the Ukrainian anthem in solidarity, including: “We must be collectively, we’ve got to battle Russian aggression, we’ve got to defeat that evil. So that is an incredible, superb initiative.”