25 February 2023 , 14:14
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Arsenal have confirmed that Oleksandr Zinchenko will captain the Gunners for their trip to Leicester on Saturday afternoon "as a mark of respect" on the first anniversary of Russian's invasion of Ukraine.
A statement released by the club shortly before kick-off reads: "Alex Zinchenko is our captain today, as a mark of respect and love on the first anniversary of the conflict in Ukraine." The left-back has represented Ukraine on more than 50 occasions and has been very vocal in his opposition to the war in his home country over the last 12 months.
Despite only joining the Gunners this summer, Zinchenko will don the armband for Arsenal so soon into his time with the club as part of the touching gesture.
Speaking in the summer of last year before Ukraine's delayed World Cup play-off against Scotland, Zinchenko broke down in tears while discussing the impact the invasion has had back home.
"Every Ukrainian wants one thing – to stop this war," he explained. "I have spoken with people from all around the world, from different countries.
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"I have also spoken to some Ukrainian kids who just don’t understand what’s happening back in Ukraine. They only want the war to stop. They have one dream, to stop the war.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has handed Oleksandr Zinchenko the captain's armband for the game against Leicester City (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)"When it comes to football, the Ukrainian team have their own dream. We want to go to the World Cup, we want to give this incredible emotion to the Ukrainians because Ukrainians deserve it so very much at this moment."
At the back-end of 2022, Zinchenko actually received an award for all his work protesting the war and using his large platform to support his home country.
The former Manchester City ace won the Media Diversity Champion of the Year prize at the UnitedHealth Group's European Diversity Awards in November.
Following that award, Linda Riley, the founder of the organisation putting on the event, paid tribute to Zinchenko.
She claimed: "You could hear a pin drop in the room tonight while Oleksandr was speaking and his passion to stop the war was evident for all to see.
"He is an upstanding member of the football community and his powerful words should resonate across the globe as people are once again shown what is going on in the Ukraine.
"Truly, since the war began Oleksandr has not shied away from speaking up and giving so many helpless Ukranian’s a voice by using his platform for good."
Zinchenko has previously explained how he 'could not stay back' while his nation was under attack from nearby Russia under Vladimir Putin's rule.