Aurier told Zinchenko to back up his claim that he would fight for Ukraine

Serge Aurier has told Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko to back up his claim that he would fight for Ukraine.

Zinchenko stated that he would leave the UK to fight in the war in the Ukraine if he was called up.

Former Tottenham and Nottingham Forest defender Aurier, who now plays for Galatasaray, insisted that Zinchenko doesn't need to be called up in order to fight.

Posting on Snapchat, Aurier wrote: 'Stop your cinema and go there right now [to Ukraine]. A real volunteer doesn't need anyone to call him up.'

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with Zinchenko having donated around £1million to help those in his homeland.

When the invasion happened, Zinchenko had intended to fight in the conflict but family members persuaded him not to.

This week Zinchenko was asked if he would fight in the war if he was called up, or whether it would be better for him to raise awareness from his current position.

'I think it's a clear answer. I would go [to fight]', Zinchenko told BBC Newsnight.

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reduced the military mobilisation age from 27 to 25.

Zinchenko stated that many of his childhood friends have been involved in the conflict.

He said: 'It's tough to understand that just recently we've been in the same school, we were playing in the playground or on the football pitch, and now they have to defend our country,' he said.

'And, honestly, [it's] so hard to accept this, but it is what it is. We cannot give up.'

Zinchenko played for Russian club Ufa between 2015 and 2016 but is no longer in contact with many of his former team-mates.

He said: 'Since the invasion really few [have] texted me and sent me some messages and I can't blame them because this is not their fault.

'I