OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO took a leading role in Arsenal’s pre-match huddle against Manchester United.
The 26-year-old motivated his team-mates just prior to kick-off, delivering a passionate speech to the rest of the starting XI.
And what he said in the huddle worked as the Gunners put in an amazing performance to beat United 3-2 thanks to a late Eddie Nketiah goal.
The Ukrainian reportedly told the team to enjoy the game and that nobody can beat them at the Emirates Stadium in front of their own fans.
Zinchenko knows what it takes to win a Premier League title, having lifted the trophy four times with Manchester City.
And his attempt to get the Arsenal players pumped up for the fixture has earned him much praise from supporters.
READ MORE ON ARSENAL
One said: “I love this guy so much.”
A second reacted: “He’s got a lot of winning spirit.”
Another commented: “This mentality. Right here. This is Arsenal.”
Zinchenko will be hoping to guide the Gunners to the title ahead of his former club City.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
His old manager Pep Guardiola was recently left raging at his team’s lack of desire to win the Prem again for the fifth time in six seasons.
Mikel Arteta’s men sit top of the table, five points ahead of their closest rivals and also have a game in hand over them.
Arsenal being leaders in January has shocked many but not Zinchenko, who always believed they were serious title challengers.
He said after the win over United: “Obviously I knew the Arsenal team, I knew all of them before, but still I realised on the pitch we have everything to achieve big things.
“I started to speak in the dressing room, saying: ‘Guys, forget top three or whatever, we need to think about the title.’
“Some of them were laughing but no one is laughing now and all of us are dreaming.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
