Arsenal defender gets new jersey number previously worn by Iwobi

According to a statement on their official website, Arsenal have confirmed that Oleksandr Zinchenko has decided to wear the number 17 jersey for the 2024/2025 campaign.

The jersey was previously worn by Cedric Soares who has left the Gunners this summer and it has also been donned by Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi before he left the club in 2019.

Zinchenko has been linked with a move away from Arsenal this summer with suggestions that he might no longer be in Mikel Arteta's plans and with the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna who can also play in the same position as him.

The decision to take a new jersey number may now have quenched the exit links with the left back now heading into his third season at the Emirates.

Speaking with Arsenal's official website, Zinchenko revealed the reason behind the sudden change in his jersey number, citing the importance of the new number.

"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."

"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 joined the north London club in the summer of 2022 after he fell out of favour at Manchester City and has since then been playing regularly as opposed to the game time he got while with the Citizens.

He has played 54 Premier League games in his two seasons with the 13-time English champions, more than he did in his last two seasons with Manchester City.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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