Arsenal’s enterprise in the summertime switch market is being finished with one clear intention in thoughts – shut the two-point hole to Manchester Metropolis that denied them final season’s Premier League title.
To date the membership have solely introduced in a single new face in Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna, whereas goalkeeper David Raya has been signed completely following his mortgage transfer from Brentford final season.
Emile Smith Rowe was the primary participant to be bought this summer time, with Fulham paying £34million for the midfielder, whereas the likes of Mohamed Elneny and Cedric Soares departed on mortgage.
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One participant linked with the exit door this summer time has been left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, who fell out of favour in the direction of the tip of final season, struggling to win a spot again within the staff after lacking a month with a calf difficulty.
The Ukraine worldwide has two years left on his present Gunners deal, with the membership revealing that he has a brand new squad quantity, indicating that he will likely be remaining on the Emirates. The 27-year-old has given up the quantity 35 shirt and can now sport the quantity 17 this season, following Soares’ exit.
“The quantity 17 could be very particular to me,” he instructed the membership’s web site. “It was the quantity I wore as a younger participant, and I’ve all the time requested to put on 17 when taking part in for my nation.
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Oleksandr Zinchenko in motion for Arsenal (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
“With 17 being free since Cedric left, I requested if I might change, and because of everybody on the membership for supporting me. It’s additionally crucial to say that if anybody has purchased this season’s new shirt straight from the membership with my title and 35 on it, they’ll get an change to my new quantity.”
The 17 shirt has been worn by the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Edu, Nacho Monreal and Alex Iwobi lately, as Zinchenko look to battle for his place in Mikel Arteta’s beginning XI amid an elevated battle for competitors on the again following Calafiori’s arrival and the return to health of final summer time’s signing Jurrien Timber.
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