OLEKSANDR ZINCHENKO has revealed how the Arsenal dressing room “family†is starting to “dream†of title glory.
Ukrainian ace Zinchenko is used to winning silverware after being part of four Prem-winning Manchester City squads.
But the Gunners extended their three month reign at the top of the table with a dominant win at Chelsea and Zinchenko admitted that Mikel Arteta̢۪s men are beginning to believe this could be a special season.
Zinchenko said: “There is always some space to improve but we are in the right way as a team, as a family.Â
“It starts in the dressing room and it’s on the pitch as well.
“We are trying to push each other, we are trying to help each other. This is the right way to do it.
“Still we have a dream, we believe that we can achieve something this season.â€
He added: “We have a lot of games ahead of us but I can feel that this group of people, they are special.
“Starting from our staff and then all the people on our training ground, our fans, we believe in ourselves, every single game. The way they support us is amazing.
“Before I came here when I heard people talking about Arsenal it was always, straight away, ‘top four, top four’.Â
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“I really want to kill and destroy this stereotype.
“We need to look further, and this team, this group of people, the fans, they deserve more. That’s what we need to do.
“Of course City are an amazing team. So we need hard work to challenge them but you never know what can happen in football. We need to go step by step with every single game.â€
Arsenal̢۪s maturity and confidence at Stamford Bridge was a line in the sand that was drawn and underlined in bold type.
Zinchenko agreed it was a “massive†victory and exemplified the growth in a side since their previous Big Six away date – the 3-1 loss at Manchester United that remains their only Prem defeat.
He added: “It was important that we stuck to our principles after Old Trafford.
“First you have to believe in yourself and the things which you are doing.
“You have to believe in the process and that is what we are trying to do every single game.
“But the most important thing apart from the tactics, staff and belief, in these kind of games, is desire, the desire to win every single duel everywhere on the pitch.
“That was the most important thing at Chelsea. We did it well.â€
Zinchenko, whose Ukraine side lost their World Cup play-off against Wales, will be one of the players taking a short break before a “second†pre-season campaign ahead of December’s post-tournament resumption.
He conceded the unprecedented situation was an extra complication and said: “It is going to be a bit of a new experience for us.
“I am pretty sure that the coaching staff are going to make the right decision for everyone to keep us fit.
“Fingers crossed everyone is going to come back from the World Cup fit and fully healthy.
“But before that we have two games, Brighton in the Carabao Cup and then Wolves away, which is always dangerous.Â
“It would be an important feeling for everyone if we can stay top going into the World Cup. That would be perfect.
“Afterwards we will see, but for us it is so important to be where we are now and just to keep going.â€
