Arsen Zakharyan Explained

Arsen Zakharyan
Full Name:Arsen Norayrovich Zakharyan
Birth Date:26 May 2003
Birth Place:Samara, Russia
Height:1.83 m[1]
Position:Attacking midfielder
Currentclub:Real Sociedad
Clubnumber:12
Youthyears1:2008–2016
Youthclubs1:Krylia Sovetov Samara
Youthyears2:2016–2017
Youthclubs2:Konoplyov football academy
Youthyears3:2017–2020
Youthclubs3:Dynamo Moscow
Years1:2020
Clubs1:Dynamo-2 Moscow
Caps1:15
Goals1:8
Years2:2020–2023
Clubs2:Dynamo Moscow
Caps2:72
Goals2:15
Years3:2023–
Clubs3:Real Sociedad
Caps3:28
Goals3:1
Nationalyears1:2018
Nationalteam1:Russia U15
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2018–2019
Nationalteam2:Russia U16
Nationalcaps2:10
Nationalgoals2:3
Nationalyears3:2019–2020
Nationalteam3:Russia U17
Nationalcaps3:7
Nationalgoals3:1
Nationalyears4:2021–
Nationalteam4:Russia U21
Nationalcaps4:3
Nationalgoals4:1
Nationalyears5:2021–
Nationalteam5:Russia
Nationalcaps5:8
Nationalgoals5:0
Club-Update:19 May 2024
Nationalteam-Update:21 March 2024

Arsen Norayrovich Zakharyan (Russian: Арсен Норайрович Захарян; Armenian: Արսեն Նորայրի Զախարյան; born 26 May 2003) is a Russian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for club Real Sociedad and the Russia national team.

Early life

Zakharyan was born in Samara, Russia into an ethnic Armenian family. Arsen's parents moved from Martakert, Azerbaijan to Russia after the First Karabakh War (1992–1994).[2]

Club career

Dynamo Moscow

2020–21 season

Zakharyan made his debut in the Russian Premier League for Dynamo Moscow on 1 November 2020, in a game against FC Tambov during the 2020–21 season.[3] He made his first starting lineup appearance for Dynamo in the first league game after the winter break, on 28 February 2021, scoring his first goal in a 2–1 away win against FC Akhmat Grozny.[4] He became the third-youngest Dynamo player to score a goal in the Russian Premier League, after Aleksandr Kokorin and Pyotr Nemov.[5]

Zakharyan was nominated player of the month for February, March and May 2021 by Dynamo fans based on his performances,[6] [7] including a late winner against CSKA Moscow in May. He was voted as player of the 2020–21 season by Dynamo fans,[8] and the Russian Football Union (RFS) nominated him best under-21 player of the season.[9]

2021–22 season

Zaharyan's first goal of the 2021–22 season came on 23 July 2021, opening the score in a 2–0 away victory over FC Rostov; he was also selected as player of the game.[10] On 9 December 2021, the Russian Premier League awarded him as the league's best under-21 player of 2021.[11]

Zakharyan was voted player of the season by Dynamo fans for the second season in a row.[12] He also finished second in the vote for the best under-21 player of the league season, losing out to league's top scorer Gamid Agalarov.[13] The RFS also named him best young player and the best left midfielder of the 2021–22 season.[14]

2022–23 season

On 1 September 2022, Dynamo announced that the club received an offer for Zakharyan's transfer from Premier League club Chelsea on 25 August 2022 and the clubs were negotiating since, but the transfer would not be possible in the summer 2022 transfer window "for a number of technical reasons beyond our control".[15] Dynamo's bank and former owner VTB Bank was sanctioned by the government of Great Britain in February 2022 following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[16] He was voted player of the month by Dynamo fans for September 2022[17] and October 2022.[18]

2023–24 season

Zakharyan started the season with Dynamo among heavy speculation about his potential transfer to a European club. Russian press reported interest from Lazio, Feyenoord, Strasbourg, Genoa, PSV Eindhoven and Ajax.[19] On 9 August 2023, Zakharyan scored a winning goal from a free-kick deep in added time to give Dynamo 4–3 victory over FC Krasnodar in a Russian Cup game.[20] For the next league game against Baltika Kaliningrad on 13 August, Zakharyan was not included in the matchday squad and watched the game from the stands. Dynamo president Pavel Pivovarov announced that the transfer terms between Dynamo and Spanish club Real Sociedad as well as the personal contract terms have been agreed on, and the transfer would become official upon the medical examination.[21]

Real Sociedad

On 19 August 2023, La Liga club Real Sociedad announced the signing of Zakharyan, contract with the club until 30 June 2029.[22] On 15 March 2024, Zakharyan scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 league win over Cádiz.[23]

International career

Youth

On 15 March 2021, Zakharyan was selected for Russia U21's squad for the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He had previously represented Russia up to the under-17s and became the youngest player on Russia's squad.[24] In his debut on 25 March 2021, in the opening game against Iceland, Zakharyan was fouled in the penalty box in the 31st minute, and Russia opened scoring from the penalty kick. In the added time of the first half he scored his first goal to make the score 3–0, with the game eventually ending with a 4–1 victory for Russia. Zakharyan became the youngest goalscorer for Russia U21,[25] and the youngest goalscorer in the history of the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, overtaking Yari Verschaeren.[26]

Senior

On 11 May 2021, Zakharyan received his first call-up to the senior Russia team, and was included in the preliminary extended 30-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020.[27] He suffered a tonsillitis infection in camp and was not included in the final squad.[28]

Zakharyan made his debut for the senior squad on 1 September 2021, in a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Croatia. He started the game and was substituted in the second half, as the game ended in a 0–0 draw.[29] He became the youngest outfield player in Russian national team history, aged, overtaking Alan Dzagoev. Zakharyan also became the second-youngest national team player overall, behind goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev.[30] Both his and Akinfeev's records were beaten by Sergei Pinyayev in 2022.[31]

Style of play

Zakharyan is a versatile player and is deployed in multiple offensive positions, as a wide midfielder on either flank, attacking midfielder or central midfielder. In some games he switches positions throughout the game as the tactics demand.[32] His characteristics, such as his finishing, passing ability and playing style, have led Zakharyan to be compared with Belgian international Kevin De Bruyne.[33]

In October 2020, he was chosen as one of the 60 of the best young talents in world football among the players born in 2003 by The Guardian.[34]

Career statistics

Club

[35]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dynamo-2 Moscow2020–21Russian Second League158158
Dynamo MoscowRussian Premier League1330000133
2021–22Russian Premier League29752349
2022–23Russian Premier League274101375
2023–24Russian Premier League312152
Total7215174008919
Real Sociedad2023–24La Liga2816050391
2024–25La Liga00000000
Total2816050391
Career total115242345014328

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Russia202140
202220
202310
202410
Total80

Honours

Dynamo Moscow

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Arsen Zakharyan . ru . FC Dynamo Moscow . 20 September 2022.
  2. Web site: Sport24. Интервью отца Арсена Захаряна из "Динамо" - история детства, интересные факты, семья, почему не взяли в "Зенит". Interview of Arsen Zakharyan's father. 23 March 2021. 1 September 2022. ru.
  3. Web site: Russian Premier League. Tambov v Dynamo Moscow game report. 1 November 2020.
  4. Web site: Russian Premier League. Akhmat v Dynamo game report. 28 February 2021.
  5. Web site: FC Dynamo Moscow. Арсен Захарян забил первый гол в возрасте 17 лет и 278 дней. 1 March 2021. ru.
  6. Web site: 25 March 2021 . Арсен Захарян — ВТБ игрок месяца в феврале-марте . . ru.
  7. Web site: 20 May 2021 . Арсен Захарян — ВТБ игрок месяца в мае . . ru.
  8. Web site: 27 May 2021 . Арсен Захарян — ВТБ игрок сезона . . ru.
  9. News: 15 July 2021 . Итоги Исполкома РФС . ru . .
  10. Web site: Russian Premier League. Rostov v Dynamo game report. 23 July 2021.
  11. Web site: Russian Premier League. Арсен Захарян – обладатель премии «Первая пятёрка» в 2021 году. 9 December 2021. ru.
  12. Web site: FC Dynamo Moscow. Арсен Захарян — ВТБ Игрок сезона. 10 June 2022. ru.
  13. Web site: Russian Premier League. Гамид Агаларов – лучший молодой игрок Тинькофф РПЛ сезона 2021/22. 16 June 2022. 16 June 2022. ru.
  14. News: Итоги Исполкома РФС. Russian Football Union. 23 June 2022. ru.
  15. Web site: Dynamo Moscow. Arsen Zakharyan stays at Dynamo. 1 September 2022. 1 September 2022. en-GB.
  16. Web site: Reuters. Sanctions-hit VTB Bank has several plans to minimise impact on its clients. 24 February 2022. 24 February 2022.
  17. Web site: FC Dynamo Moscow. Арсен Захарян — ВТБ Игрок месяца в сентябре. 1 October 2022. ru.
  18. Web site: FC Dynamo Moscow. Арсен Захарян — ВТБ Игрок месяца в октябре. 2 November 2022. ru.
  19. Web site: Sports.ru. Захарян едет в "Сосьедад". Сработал 20-й вариант из инсайдов. 12 August 2023. ru.
  20. Web site: Russian Football Union. Dynamo v Krasnodar game report. 9 August 2023. ru.
  21. Web site: Sports.ru. "Динамо" о Захаряне и "Сосьедаде": "Договоренность достигнута. Сегодня он улетает на медосмотр". Dynamo about Zakharyan and Sociedad: Agreement has been reached, he flies out for a medical today.. 13 August 2023. ru.
  22. Web site: 19 August 2023 . Arsen Zakharyan Level complete, the Russian talent arrives . 19 August 2023 . Real Sociedad . en.
  23. Web site: Real Sociedad 2–0 Cádiz. The Athletic. 15 March 2024. 15 March 2024.
  24. Web site: Russian Football Union. Состав на молодежный чемпионат Европы. Squad for the European Championship. 15 March 2021. ru.
  25. Web site: Dynamo Moscow. Арсен заработал пенальти, забил шикарный гол и стал самым молодым автором гола молодёжной сборной России. 25 March 2021. ru.
  26. Web site: Dynamo Moscow. Захарян стал самым молодым автором гола в истории молодёжных чемпионатов Европы. 26 March 2021. ru.
  27. Web site: Russian Football Union. https://rfs.ru/news/213625. ru:Расширенный состав сборной России для подготовки к ЕВРО. Extended national team line-up for Euro preparations. ru. 11 May 2021.
  28. Web site: Russian Football Union. Состав сборной России на ЕВРО-2020. Russia national team line-up for EURO-2020. 2 June 2021. ru.
  29. Web site: Russian Football Union. Russia v Croatia game report. 1 September 2021. 1 September 2021. ru.
  30. Web site: Match TV. ЗАХАРЯН — САМЫЙ МОЛОДОЙ ПОЛЕВОЙ ИГРОК В ИСТОРИИ СБОРНОЙ РОССИИ. 1 September 2021. ru.
  31. Web site: Russian Football Union. Сергей Пиняев – самый молодой дебютант сборной России. 17 November 2022. ru.
  32. Web site: Sport Express. Захарян о победе над ЦСКА: "Пропустили первыми и не вошли в игру, но проявили характер". 8 August 2021. 28 August 2021. ru.
  33. Web site: Who Is Arsen Zakharyan, The 19-Year-Old Russian Playmaker Close To Joining Chelsea . 26 August 2022 . 12 September 2022.
  34. Web site: 8 October 2020 . Next Generation 2020: 60 of the best young talents in world football . The Guardian.
  35. Web site: Arsen Zakharyan. SofaScore. 15 March 2024.
  36. Web site: "Спартак" обыграл "Динамо" и стал 4-кратным победителем Кубка России . 12 August 2023 . Premier Liga . ru.
  37. Web site: Агаларов, Сафонов и Захарян – в списке "33 лучших футболистов" сезона . 14 September 2023 . Российский футбольный союз . ru-RU.