Oleksandr Zinchenko’s official announcement as an Arsenal player moved a step closer as he was spotted in the crowd during his new side’s latest pre-season clash.
The Ukrainian flew across the United States earlier this week after the Gunners agreed a £32million deal with Premier League champions Manchester City. The versatile midfielder then left City’s camp in Houston, joining Mikel Arteta’s squad in Orlando.
Arsenal are yet to officially confirm Zinchenko’s arrival, but it is expected in the coming days once the final stages of his medical and paperwork are completed. And Gunners supporters were given a glimpse of their new signing when he was initially spotted getting off the team coach, before watching their friendly with Orlando City along with technical director Edu.
The 25-year-old will become Arteta’s fifth signing of the summer window, following the arrivals of Marquinhos, Fabio Vieira, Matt Turner and Gabriel Jesus. It brings the Gunners’ spending over £100m with all eyes on returning to the top four next term.
City allowed Zinchenko to leave the Etihad after six trophy-laden seasons at the club, with manager Pep Guardiola full of praise for a player who has played such a crucial role in their recent successes.
“On behalf of the club [I would like to express] gratitude for the effort, how they behave on and off the pitch,” Guardiola said. “It was nice with Alex yesterday because we could say goodbye properly.
“Unfortunately with Raheem [Sterling] and Gabriel we could not do it because it was the summer time but yesterday we could say goodbye to him and [he can] move on to Arsenal.”
Arsenal’s game on Thursday morning UK time, is their penultimate game of their US tour, with a game against Chelsea on Sunday morning wrapping up proceedings. They will then return to the capital to face Sevilla, before the competitive stuff begins against Crystal Palace on August 5 at Selhurst Park.
But despite being heavily backed for the second successive summer window, Arteta has admitted that he hopes there is more to come, as he continues his dramatic overhaul of the playing squad he inherited less than three years ago.
“We are in the market to keep improving the squad, but there are so many parties involved and sometimes things don’t happen as quickly as you want,” he explained.
It is anticipated that a midfielder will be next on Arteta’s wishlist, with the likes of Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans. The failed pursuit of Raphinha - who has now joined Barcelona - also hints that the Spaniard would be open to signing another wide forward, before the window closes on September 1.
