Arsenal and Ukraine international Oleksandr Zinchenko has lifted the lid on what he calls the “worst season” of his professional career in his newly released autobiography, Believe. Reflecting on the 2024–25 campaign, the 28-year-old defender revealed the emotional toll of falling out of Arsenal’s starting XI.
“I was basically out of the starting XI altogether, bar a few isolated matches,” Zinchenko stated. “In pure personal terms, it was easily the worst season I ever experienced as a professional.”
“Imagine this little boy who’s dedicated his entire existence to becoming good at one particular thing and then finds at 28 that he’s essentially no longer needed.”
— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) August 13, 2025
Oleksandr Zinchenko in a new chapter from his autobiography Believe, via @TheAthleticFChttps://t.co/8IKcUvpAqd
From Key Player to Unused Substitute
Zinchenko, who joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022, quickly became an influential figure in Mikel Arteta’s side. But last season told a different story.
“Going from one of the established players of the side to unused sub is much harder to deal with,” he explains. “The sense of rejection you feel if your manager no longer believes in you can take the stuffing out of you, even if you’re the most resilient guy on the planet.”
The Ukrainian defender’s comments shed light on the mental challenges that come with losing a regular starting role — a reality many footballers face but rarely discuss so openly.
While acknowledging the privileges of playing in the Premier League, Zinchenko remains grounded about his situation. “Sitting on the bench in the Premier League for a very generous wage packet is obviously still a privilege, the kind of problem that billions of people on this planet would swap their much tougher lives for in a heartbeat. Trust me, as a Ukrainian, I’m aware of that. Every single minute.”
“No Longer Needed”
However, he emphasises that money and prestige cannot replace the joy of playing the game he loves. “Every footballer started playing because they love to play the game. A big part of your life is missing without it.”
Zinchenko describes the personal struggle of being sidelined at what should be the prime of his career. “Imagine this little boy who’s dedicated his entire existence to becoming good at one particular thing and then finds at 28 that he’s essentially no longer needed, that there are others who can do the job for him. It’s not a nice feeling.”
The candid revelations in Believe raise questions about Zinchenko’s future at Arsenal. With the 2024–25 season marking a low point in his playing time, speculation is growing about whether a transfer could reignite his career.
Regardless of what comes next, Zinchenko’s openness offers a rare, human perspective on the realities of life at football’s highest level — where success is not only measured in trophies, but also in the ability to play the game you love.
