For footballers, it’s essential to keep their focus on the pitch and not to get distracted by some other things.However, staying calm and focused is challenging when your country is going through a raging war. And that’s just what Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko has been facing these months and even years, as Ukraine is at war with neighbouring Russia.War-affected WC playoffs with Zinchenko’s tears and utter madness of Graeme SounessTalking to the BBC ahead of the Gunners’ Premier League clash with Brighton and Hove Albion, the former Manchester City versatile full-back said he’s ready to fight for his country.”I think it’s a clear answer. I would go [to fight]”, he said.Zinchenko clash with White over conceded goal, but Arteta – loves it?!He added that he had former school friends fighting 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,” he said.”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,” he said.##NAJAVA_MECA_8010930##The Arsenal player began his football career with the Russian team Ufa in 2016, and he said he no longer talks to his friends or former teammates in Russia.”Since the invasion, really few [have] texted me, but I stopped any communication since February 2022. They sent me some messages and I can’t blame them because this is not their fault,” he said.”I cannot tell them, ‘Guys, do the protests outside and all these things’, because I know they can be [put] in prison.He said Russians used to call Ukrainians their “brothers” and “sisters”, but the invasion has shown “all of us Ukrainians that we can’t be friends with them any more”.”We will never forget what they have done to us, to our people,” he said. “And that’s what I will teach my kids as well. And my kids will teach their kids. This is not acceptable,” concluded the 27-year-old.PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 32Saturday14:30: (9.50) Crystal Palace (5.30) Man.City (1.32)17:00: (1.70) Aston Villa (3.90) Brentford (4.90)17:00: (1.70) Everton (3.60) Burnley (5.30)17:00: (2.50) Wolverhampton (3.50) West Ham (2.95)17:00: (2.50) Fulham (3.45) Newcastle (2.75)17:00: (3.80) Luton (3.60) Bournemouth (1.95)19:30: (5.40) Brighton (3.80) Arsenal (1.65)Sunday17:30: (4.80) Man.Utd. (3.90) Liverpool (1.70)19:30: (8.00) Sheffield Utd (5.00) Chelsea (1.38)20:00: (1.45) Tottenham (4.50) Nott.Forest (7.00)***odds are subject to change***
