CLASSY Arsenal hung Oleg Luzhny a shirt in the changing room for today’s game against Leicester – as their former defender fights for Ukraine in the defence against Russia.
The Gunners also named him with his No22 and the Ukraine flag in the squad list between Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga on the back of the programme.
Arsenal printed a Luzhny 22 shirt for the clash against Leicester
He was included in the matchday programme squad list
They also added a touching message inside – and provided fans with a positive update on Luzhny ahead of the Foxes clash.
Arsenal wrote: “Our thoughts are with our former defender Oleg Luzhny, a double winner with us in 2001/02, when he became the first Ukrainian player to win a major trophy in England.
“A hugely popular figure with team-mates and supporters, Oleg played 110 games for Arsenal between 1999 and 2003, after joining us from a very powerful Dynamo Kyiv team that had just beaten the Gunners in the Champions League.
“We have been in touch with Oleg, who has put his coaching career on hold, opting to join Ukraine’s Territorial Defence Force to try to protect his country and at the time of writing, Oleg and his family remain safe and we hope and pray this can remain the case.
“As a small gesture of our support for the man who also won the 2003 FA Cup with the Gunners, Oleg takes his old No22 on the back page of today’s programme.”
Luzhny left Highbury in 2003 for a season at Wolves before finishing his playing career with Latvian side Venta – then went into coaching.
The 52-cap right-back returned to Ukraine following Vladimir Putin’s troops’ invasion last month.
And he insisted Ukraine will not give up in their fight to protect themselves.
He told the Mirror: “Like all devoted Ukrainians, now I’m in Ukraine, with all our people defending our motherland. I joined the Territorial Defence Force.
“The situation is very tense, the siren sounds three or four times a day, also at night.
“People have to frantically dash to bomb shelters, women with small children, who don’t understand what is happening, they are terrified.
“Entire cities and towns are shelled and being destroyed, people are left without gas, electricity, water and food.
“But our nation stands united like never before.
“We will not give up, everyone is trying to assist in the best possible way.”
Luzhny won the double in 2001-02 and another FA Cup in 2003
