���˿���

Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko used a Ukrainian phrase to sum up the nagging disappointment the Gunners are looking to avoid this season – don’t end up biting your elbows.

The phrase is one of regret at something that seems attainable, but is not.

It could be used to describe Arsenal’s Premier League title aspirations for the past two seasons.

For extended periods in both campaigns, it seemed Arsenal were on the brink of ending a near two-decade wait for a Premier League crown.

On both occasions, they ended up disappointed as Manchester City extended their tenure at the top to an unprecedented four seasons in a row.

"How much City pushed us in the last two years shows how demanding the league is and where the level is,” Zinchenko said.

"In the beginning of the season, you can lose some games and drop some points and think you will be back. But these kinds of points, you can just miss in the last period of the season, then you try to bite your elbows but the elbows are too far and it is too late.

"It shows how demanding this league is."

Zinchenko is uniquely placed to assess the strengths of the opponent given he spent six seasons with Manchester City, winning four league titles, an FA Cup and four EFL Cups before joining Arsenal for £30m in 2022.

The 27-year-old sees no value in mimicking his old club. He thinks, under manager Mikel Arteta, Arsenal are already on the right path.

"We don’t need to copy someone like City," he said.

"Of course, at the moment they are probably the best team in the world and you always need to look at the best. But you don’t want to be like them, we need to be on top of them.

"Mikel and his staff are doing an amazing job here. You can see the progress. I really hope and believe that in the close future, the club can achieve a lot of good things."