Declan Rice has shown his support for Oleksandr Zinchenko on Instagram after the Arsenal defender admitted that his form had not been good enough over the course of this past season.
Arsenal, of course, fell agonisingly short in the Premier League title race this past season, with Manchester City clinching their fourth crown in a row on the final day.
The Gunners definitely improved from the previous year, but their fans would arguably be forgiven for wondering what could have been had Jurrien Timber not picked up a serious injury on the opening day.
Oleksandr Zinchenko played such an important role in elevating Arsenal upon his arrival from Manchester City, but his limitations as a left-back arguably came to the fore this past season.
Zinchenko has even been labelled a liability defensively, and it seems that the Ukraine international was well aware that he was not at the level required.
Declan Rice responds to Oleksandr Zinchenko’s Instagram post
Zinchenko took to Instagram to reflect on this past season, and he suggested that he was not best pleased with his personal form.
But there was a show of support from Declan Rice in response…
Arsenal’s stance on defender’s future ahead of the transfer window
Zinchenko has promised to Arsenal fans to return stronger which is perhaps a hint concerning where he sees his future.
But perhaps Arsenal may view the situation differently as they look to make the changes over the summer which, they hope, will take them across the line in the title race.
Arsenal are open to offers for Zinchenko this summer, so perhaps there is a chance that he has already made his final appearance for the club, depending on what happens over the next few months.
Zinchenko is clearly someone who brings so much to the table, and you can imagine that he is a real leader behind the scenes having captained his country.
But Arteta has shown with Aaron Ramsdale that he is prepared to be ruthless as he tries to end Arsenal’s wait for title glory, so perhaps there may come a point where he sees selling Zinchenko as more beneficial.