Odegaard’s incredible Zinchenko gesture shows why Arsenal top Premier League

Robin Bairner

• 25 Feb 2023 22:17 GMT
• 3 min read

Arsenal handed Ukraine international Oleksandr Zinchenko the captain’s armband for their Premier League victory over Leicester on Saturday – and the former Manchester City star has revealed just how touched he was by the move.

Zinchenko has been a star performer for Arsenal as they have climbed to the top of the top-flight standings, in which they lead the left-back’s former club by two points with a game in hand.

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On Saturday, they overcame Leicester 1-0 away from home thanks to a goal from Gabriel Martinelli shortly after half-time but the match was notable because Zinchenko had been given the honour of captaining Arsenal for the first time.

It was revealed prior to kick off that the Gunners had elected to give him the armband as a show of solidarity to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia invading his homeland.

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Arteta on Zinchenko captaincy

After the fixture, Arteta opened up on how the decision to give Zinchenko the captaincy came about and revealed that Martin Odegaard had a key say.

“It was great because it was an initiative from the players. Martin came to me yesterday and they wanted to have that gesture with him,” the manager said.

“Today we wanted to win for him, for his loved ones, and for all the Ukrainian people that I think has inspired the world with that fighting spirit and with the togetherness they showed as a country.

“If we can add some happiness today to them and reflecting on who Alex is for us, it was a good opportunity, so I’m delighted to dedicate that win to them.”

Although this was just a token nod to events in Ukraine, it underlines the togetherness of the Arsenal squad and the type of personalities that they have leading in the dressing room.

Arteta may have a group of talented footballers at his disposal, but he has also built a squad of excellent men who, as Odegaard’s gesture shows, are playing and supporting one another with their lives both on and off the field. This is underlined with their treatment of Zinchenko, who has only been at the club since last summer.

To have such a band of brothers, playing for each other will be priceless as the title race unfolds.