Oleksandr Zinchenko hints at Arsenal player exhaustion in new message to fans
Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko shared hilarious footage of new teammate Christian Norgaard as pre-season got underway for the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta’s side kicked off their pre-season tour in Singapore with a confident 1-0 win over AC Milan on 23 July.
Bukayo Saka scored the decisive goal following a brilliant cross from Jakub Kiwior, giving Mikel Arteta’s side the perfect start to their preparations.
The match also saw several debuts, with Norgaard starting his first game in Arsenal colours. Other summer signings Martin Zubimendi and Kepa Arrizabalaga were both introduced in the second half to get their first minutes for the club.
Zinchenko, who started the game alongside Norgaard, later shared a light-hearted video of the Danish midfielder, capturing the early chemistry beginning to form in the squad as Arsenal’s pre-season gets into full swing.
Zinchenko captures Christian Norgaard falling asleep after hectic Arsenal debut week
After what’s clearly been a busy introduction to life at Arsenal, Zinchenko shared a funny video of Norgaard fast asleep on the team coach. The clip was captioned: “First week at Arsenal” alongside several laughing emojis.
Several players, including Kai Havertz, could be seen in the background, finding humour in the moment and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere within the squad.
Despite the good spirits in camp, Zinchenko’s long-term future at the Emirates remains in doubt.
Football Insider revealed Arsenal have made the decision to sell Zinchenko this summer if a suitable offer arrives, with Borussia Dortmund showing interest.
The defender started just five Premier League matches last season, having lost his place to Myles Lewis-Skelly and Riccardo Calafiori.
Against AC Milan, with Gabriel still sidelined due to a hamstring issue, Calafiori filled in at centre-back, allowing Zinchenko to feature at left-back.
However, he’s now slipped down the pecking order and, with only one year left on his deal, Arsenal are keen to cash in on Zinchenko. For now, he remains with the squad on their pre-season tour.
Arsenal close in on Viktor Gyokeres signing
With pre-season now well underway, the Gunners look set to bolster their attacking options with another major addition.
Arsenal have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, with a medical now set to be scheduled ahead of completing the transfer.
Negotiations with the Portuguese side have taken weeks, but Arsenal are understood to have finally made a breakthrough and are eager to bring the Swedish forward into the fold.
There’s hope Gyokeres could feature against Newcastle on 27 July, though if not, fans may see his full debut in a North London Derby against Tottenham on 31 July.