LONDON: Oleksandr Zinchenko became the second player to leave Manchester City to join Arsenal in this offseason after signing for a reported fee of 30 million pounds ($36 million) on Friday.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who was assistant coach at City from 2016-19, has already signed Gabriel Jesus from his former club.
Zinchenko, a midfielder who mostly played at left back for City, ended his six-year spell at Etihad Stadium, where he was never a first-team regular despite being the captain of Ukraine.
Arsenal did not disclose the length of Zinchenko’s contract.
“He’s a player that I personally know really well and continued to follow him after my time at Manchester City,” Arteta said.
“Alex is a high-quality player who will give us options and versatility.
“It’s not only about the positions he can play but as well, the versatility he will give us in attack and defense. Alex is a person with great human qualities and character, and I’m delighted that everyone has made this huge effort to bring Alex to the club.”
Arsenal technical director Edu said Zinchenko “was a main focus on our list” of possible transfers.
Zinchenko leaves Man City to join Arsenal for $36M
https://arab.news/8fe2n
Zinchenko leaves Man City to join Arsenal for $36M
- Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has already signed Gabriel Jesus from his former club
- Zinchenko ended his six-year spell at Etihad Stadium
Havertz haunts former club as Arsenal rescue 1-1 draw at Leverkusen
- Havertz converted the late spot kick to cancel out Robert Andrich’s 46th-minute header
- The two sides will meet again in London for the return leg next Tuesday
LEVERKUSEN, Germany: Arsenal’s eight-game winning run in the Champions League came to an end as they needed an 89th-minute penalty from substitute Kai Havertz to rescue a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen in their last-16 first leg on Wednesday.
Former Leverkusen player Havertz converted the late spot kick to cancel out Robert Andrich’s 46th-minute header for the hosts, marking the first time this season that quadruple-chasing Arsenal had fallen behind in Europe’s elite competition.
The Premier League leaders, who had won all eight of their previous matches to top the table after the league phase, were toothless in attack despite hitting the woodwork in a bright start, and could not find a way back into the game until their late penalty, awarded for a foul on Noni Madueke.
The two sides will meet again in London for the return leg next Tuesday.
