Former Arsenal defender reveals ‘worst season’ left him ‘ashamed’ in front of daughters

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Oleksandr Zinchenko has opened up about the emotional toll of his final season at Arsenal, revealing how his lack of playing time left him feeling “ashamed” in front of his young daughters.

The Ukrainian defender, who joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022, endured a difficult 2024/25 campaign where he started just five Premier League matches. The arrival of Riccardo Calafiori and the emergence of academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly severely limited his opportunities under Mikel Arteta.

A career low point

In a candid excerpt from his updated autobiography, Zinchenko described the period as his career nadir.

“I was basically out of the starting XI altogether, bar a few isolated matches. In pure personal terms, it was easily the worst season I ever experienced as a professional,” he wrote.

The former City star, who won four Premier League titles during his six years at the Etihad, struggled to come to terms with his reduced role at the Emirates Stadium.

“A player who doesn’t play is nothing. Going from one of the established players of the side to unused sub is much harder to deal with. The sense of rejection you feel if your manager no longer believes in you can take the stuffing out of you.”

Family impact

Perhaps most poignantly, Zinchenko revealed how his situation affected his family life, particularly a moment involving his daughters Eva and Leia at a match.

“Eva, the older one at three-and-a-half, says to Leia, ‘Look, there’s Daddy.’ Leia looks all over the pitch but can’t find me. And then Eva points and says, ‘No, he’s not playing. He’s on the bench,'” he recalled.

The defender admitted the exchange left him feeling deeply uncomfortable about his professional circumstances.

“Hearing that pained me a lot. It made me feel ashamed,” he said.

He also acknowledged the strain on his wife Vlada, noting how she tried to hide her own disappointment to avoid adding to his struggles.

New chapter in Amsterdam

After a brief loan spell at Nottingham Forest was cut short due to limited playing time, Zinchenko secured a permanent move to Ajax in January. The 28-year-old will likely be watching this weekend’s Carabao Cup final between his former clubs with particular interest.

Despite the challenges of his final Arsenal chapter, Zinchenko maintained perspective about his privileged position while emphasizing the fundamental drive that motivates all professional footballers.

“Every footballer started playing because they love to play the game. A big part of your life is missing without it.”

The defender’s honest reflections provide insight into the human cost of squad rotation and tactical evolution at the highest level of football.