Oleksandr Zinchenko’s transfer to Arsenal had been planned for six months, technical director Edu has revealed.
Zinchenko became the Gunners’ fifth summer signing last week after joining from Manchester City in a deal worth £32million, linking up with former Etihad team-mate Gabriel Jesus in north London.
The Ukrainian international will provide competition and support for the injured Kieran Tierney at left-back, while he is also capable of being deployed in a central midfield role.
Zinchenko impressed during his early training sessions under Mikel Arteta - under whom he also worked at City during the Spaniard’s time as assistant to Pep Guardiola - on Arsenal’s pre-season tour of the United States, being trusted for an immediate start in Orlando, where he played the first 45 minutes of the shock 4-0 Florida Cup final drubbing of London rivals Chelsea.
Edu has since revealed his delight at signing the versatile 25-year-old, a long-term target for whom a move to the Emirates had been targeted since the start of the year.
"We are so excited to have Zinchenko with us here because he's a player that we really targeted,” Edu told Sky Sports. “It's a player that we really believe has the characteristics and the qualities that are going to increase our level in the squad for sure.
"[The Zinchenko transfer] was planned like six months ago, to feed that position in the best way possible in the way which Mikel really wants to play.
"Mikel of course knows him more than anyone because they worked together [at Manchester City] but all the information around the player is top. Not only about his qualities as a footballer but as a person as well, which for us is so important to have a player like him in the squad."
