GOAL's EPL Manager of the Season: Every coach ranked

Football on TV in India: Matches to watch & live stream

Arne Slot: Ideal Klopp successor, or Liverpool's Ten Hag?

Claim Your Exclusive 1xBet Promo Code 2024: 1GOALIN for ₹66,000

And that's a wrap! Winners & losers of the EPL season

Pogba sends message to Allegri after Juve sacking

Agent Aguero making Balotelli’s transfer dream come true!

How Inter Miami plan to 'survive' Copa America without Messi

Al-Nassr's new kit leaked as Ronaldo seen modelling adidas strip

Haaland clinches Golden Boot to join Henry & Kane in elite club

Another offer for Mourinho! Two clubs in talks to hire ex-Roma boss

'Only in Riyadh' - Ronaldo posts after Usyk win over Fury

De Zerbi clarifies his future after shock Brighton exit

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Versatile performer proud of homeland</li><li>Has friends fighting on the frontline</li><li>Willing to join efforts if required</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

‘I would go’ – Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko prepared to join war in Ukraine if called upon by his country

Friendlies

Germany

Ukraine

A <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/ukraine-russia-invasion-zinchenko-shevchenko-call-solidarity-smolov-no-war/blt2f3a290fe60a7056" target="_blank">full-scale invasion was launched by Russia back in February 2022</a>, with political tension in the Donbas region boiling over. Zinchenko offered to head home at that stage, putting his professional career on hold, but was eventually dissuaded by family members.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Zinchenko is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/oleksandr-zinchenko-reveals-mission-help-ukraine/blt76e784f689df7851" target="_blank">still prepared to join the fight if required</a>, telling <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68737085 " target="_blank">BBC Newsnight</a> after seeing Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky lower the country’s military recruitment age from 27 to 25: “I think it's a clear answer. I would go [to fight].”The versatile Arsenal star added on having former school friends on the frontline: “It's tough to understand that just recently we've been in the same school, we were playing in the playground or on the football pitch, and now they have to defend our country. And, honestly, [it's] so hard to accept this, but it is what it is. We cannot give up. I know maybe some people might think that it's much easier … for me being here [in London] rather than being there [in Ukraine]. I really hope that this war will end soon. What is my duty now? How can I help as much as I can to my country, to my people, over there and all these things? I can't be more proud than I am right now to be Ukrainian. I have a dream that this war will end very, very soon, and we can rebuild our Ukraine like we really want [to].”

WHAT ZINCHENKO SAID

Zinchenko spent time in Russia with Ufa in 2016, but admits that he can no longer remain in contact with colleagues from that period. He added: “Since the invasion really few [have] texted me and sent me some messages and I can't blame them because this is not their fault. I cannot tell them, 'Guys, do the protests outside and all these things', because I know they can be [put] in prison.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Zinchenko has plenty off-field distractions to contend with at present and has spent time on the bench at Arsenal over recent weeks as they look to keep themselves in contention for Premier League and Champions League title glory.

WHAT NEXT?

‘I would go’ – Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko prepared to join war in Ukraine if called upon by his country | Goal.com India

Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko says he “would go” if called upon by Ukraine to join military efforts in the nation’s ongoing war with Russia.

Editors' Picks