Gabriel Jesus has made a playful joke about his teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko, teasing him over his contributions to Manchester City’s Premier League titles. The pair won four championships together at the Etihad before moving to Arsenal last summer. They have played a crucial role in helping the Gunners reach the top of the Premier League table, with an eight-point lead and in line to end their 19-year wait for the title.
Bukayo Saka and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale have both expressed their surprise that Pep Guardiola allowed the duo to leave City. Known to be great friends, Jesus revealed that he wound up Zinchenko by commenting on his utility role at City in what was playful banter. Naming the Ukrainian as Arsenal’s biggest joker in the squad, Jesus said, “I think Alex is the king of joking. All the time he just jokes with someone. One day he was like saying things you know, joking like ‘ah, I won four Premier Leagues you know and then the last one I give to you’.”
Zinchenko often found himself on the bench during his time at the Etihad, with Joao Cancelo ahead of him in the left-back pecking order. After sealing a move to Arsenal, Zinchenko hailed the influence Jesus had in his transfer as he opened up on their friendship. The 26-year-old remarked, “To be honest, we are close to each other and I love him so much. He’s my big friend and I would like to say that he was also involved in the discussion and all these things.”
Zinchenko has already started 21 top-flight games for Arsenal this season after forcing Kieran Tierney out of the line-up. The versatile defender and Jesus look set to start away at Liverpool on Sunday, before turning their attention to the crucial trip to City later in April.