Oleksandr Zinchenko has been left out of the Arsenal squad to face Lyon by Mikel Arteta as the Gunners begin their preparations for a Premier League return on Boxing Day. The versatile summer arrival only recently returned from a calf injury after a five-week absence and has now placed more doubt over his potential availability with Arsenal returning to domestic action in less than three weeks.
Arsenal played their first fixture ahead of English football returning following the end of the World Cup on Saturday, December 3 against Watford at London Colney. A number of first-team players were involved including Martin Odegaard and Kieran Tierney.
Zinchenko however, did not feature at all, despite Arteta making 10 changes at half time and now the Ukrainian international is absent from the matchday squad for Arsenal's first match of the Dubai Super Cup against Lyon.
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The clash will see former Arsenal star Alexandre Lacazette line up against his old club for the French outfit that he joined the Gunners from in 2017.
Arteta is already set to be without one summer arrival with Gabriel Jesus not expected to be back in action until February at the earliest and now his other acquisition from Manchester City, Zinchenko, could be set for another spell on the side-lines.
Before starting the London derby win against Chelsea on November 6, 2022, Zinchenko had not featured for Arsenal since the north London derby victory against Tottenham on October 1, 2022.
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