Arsenal made Oleksandr Zinchenko captain for their match against Leicester as “a mark of respect and love on the first anniversary of the conflict in Ukraine”.
War in Ukraine broke out on February 24 and the conflict is still going on one year after it began.
Arsenal have marked the occasion by making Zinchenko, who is an established Ukraine international, captain for their match at Leicester on Saturday, February 25.
The Gunners’ usual skipper is Martin Odegaard, while their two vice-captains are Gabriel Jesus and Granit Xhaka. The idea is understood to have been Odegaard’s idea.
Odegaard and Xhaka were picked to start the game at the King Power Stadium, but the armband was given to Zinchenko for the match.
“Alex Zinchenko is our captain today, as a mark of respect and love on the first anniversary of the conflict in Ukraine,” a statement from Arsenal.
Arsenal were travelling to Leicester two points clear at the top of the Premier League.
