Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko drops hint over his future after changing squad number

Oleksandr Zinchenko looks set to stay put at Arsenal this summer after switching to his preferred squad number.

The Ukraine international has been tipped to leave the Emirates this transfer window following a difficult season where he put in a series of underwhelming performances for the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta made signing a left-sided defender a priority this summer, with £42million arrival Riccardo Calafiori expected to displace Zinchenko in the starting XI.

As a result, it was thought that the 27-year-old, who shone in his first season after signing from Manchester City in 2022, may look to leave north London.

But it would appear that is far from the case, with Arsenal announcing on Tuesday that Zinchenko had selected a new squad number ahead of the 2024/25 season.

He will switch from the No.35 to the No.17 shirt vacated by Cedric Soares, who is still a free agent after leaving the Gunners upon the expiry of his contract, a change that would have unlikely been made if he was set to leave the club.

‘The number 17 is a very special number to me. It was the number I wore as a young player, and I’ve always requested to wear 17 when playing for my country,’ Zinchenko told Arsenal’s official website.

‘With 17 being free since Cedric left, I asked if I could change, and thanks to everyone at the club for supporting me. 

‘It’s also very important to say that if anyone has bought this season’s new shirt directly from the club with my name and 35 on it, they can get an exchange to my new number.’

Zinchenko hasn’t worn the 17 since leaving Russian club Ufa in 2016, due to Kevin De Bruyne and Cedric wearing it at City and Arsenal.

In the Premier League era, past players to have worn the 17 for Arsenal are Alex Iwobi, Alexis Sanchez, Nacho Monreal, Alex Song, Edu Gaspar, Emmanuel Petit, David Hillier and John Jensen.

No other Gunners player has changed number this year, with new signing Calafiori donning the No.33.

With Zinchenko seemingly staying put and fellow left-back Kieran Tierney highly unlikely to be sold while out injured, it seems increasingly probable that Jakub Kiwior will leave, with the Pole linked with a return to Serie A.

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