Oleksandr Zinchenko says he’s fulfilling ‘a boyhood dream’ by playing under Arsene Wenger in the ‘Game 4 Ukraine’.
The Arsenal defender is one of the stars set to feature in the charity match in an all-star clash at Stamford Bridge in August that will raise funds for the re-construction of the Mykhailo-Kotsiubynsky School in Chernihiv Oblast which was struct by missiles .
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Zinchenko may have made headlines for joining the Gunners last summer in a blockbuster deal from Manchester City, but the 26-year-old revealed he actually came close to moving to north London when he was playing in the Shakhtar Donetsk academy as a 17-year-old.
Had the move come off, he’d have been learning from Arsenal legend Wenger, whom the versatile star admits looking up to during his early years in the game in Ukraine.
Zinchenko is now set to play under his idol Wenger, something he admits is a dream come true.
Speaking to talkSPORT to promote the ‘Game 4 Ukraine’, which will also feature Chelsea and Ukraine legend Andriy Shevchenko, Zinchenko said: “It’s incredible. I’d like to say a massive thanks to him that he was going to join us.
“My boyhood dream was to be an Arsenal player and that after watching Arsenal with Arsene Wenger, Arsenal was the team where I wanted to be since I was a kid and using this opportunity he will be my manager.”
Zinchenko also revealed he spoke to the legendary boss when he came to watch the Gunners in the Premier League last season and asked whether his move to England as a teenager was on the cards.
“A few months ago he came to one of the games at the Emirates and we spoke about football and the rumours about myself and Arsenal. I asked him if it was true and he said ‘yes it was’.
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“I had the opportunity to join Arsenal when I was 17, but eventually it happened, just a bit later!”
Zinchenko added: “He’s a living legend here and around the world so it’s going to be a massive pleasure to see him again.
“Everyone around the football world respects him a lot and they’re going to see that he’s supporting Ukraine, supporting the idea and they will follow him which is great.”
Game 4 Ukraine is set to take place at Chelsea’s home, Stamford Bridge, on August 5th 2023.
For ticket details and additional information, be sure to check out the event’s official website.
