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Oleksandr Zinchenko and a host of Arsenal legends are set to be involved in the Game4Ukraine celebrity charity match on Saturday, August 5 in aid of the people of Ukraine.

The event at Stamford Bridge will see Alex captain Team Zinchenko as they face Team Shevchenko, headlined by legendary striker Andriy Shevchenko. The event aims to raise money to help rebuild the Mykhailo-Kotsiubynsky Lyceum after the school was destroyed by missiles.

Since the invasion last year, more than 2,700 educational institutions have been badly damaged, including more than 1,200 schools – 200 of which have been completely destroyed. This has left 1.5 million Ukrainian children studying remotely.

To help with the fundraising efforts, the footballing community – as well as recognisable names from sport and entertainment – are uniting in west London, and there is plenty of Arsenal stardust in Alex’s squad.

Our left-back will be involved in a non-playing capacity, skippering a team managed by Arsene Wenger that includes Invincibles Patrick Vieira, Jens Lehmann, Robert Pires and Gael Clichy, plus former heroes Per Mertesacker, Bacary Sagna, Oleh Luzhnyi and Jack Wilshere. Alongside them are several other heroes past and present, including Gerard Pique, Patrik Berger and Joleon Lescott, with more to be announced.

Team Shevchenko will be managed by Chelsea Women boss Emma Hayes, and she’ll have the likes of Gianfranco Zola, Fabio Cannavaro and Clarence Seedorf to select from, as well as a large ex-Chelsea contingent including Claude Makelele, Samuel Eto’o and Michael Essien and another former Gunner in William Gallas.

As well as footballing icons, there will also be a host of celebrities from the worlds of music, film and lifestyle pulling on their boots, and an extended half-time show featuring bands playing live to those watching live and on television.

Find out more information about the whole list of players involved

It is hoped the action on the pitch will provide hope for the children of Ukraine where Alex and Shevchenko flew to during the off-season to meet President Zelenskyy. 

The two captains also visited the Mykhailo-Kotsiubynsky Lyceum – the first school site that will benefit from funds raised by the event. It is situated in Chernihiv Oblast; an area occupied by Russian troops for 33 days, and 90 per cent of the building was damaged by missiles.

Reflecting on that experience, Alex admitted: “It is completely different when you see it with your own eyes than watching it on your phone or social media. It is so scary to be honest because you realise that the younger generation is going to grow up with all of this.

“Apart from raising funds and the powerful message it sends to the world that we are sticking together, it is also an event where we can move a bit away from the war and watch an amazing game with amazing legends and current players.

“I have received a lot of love and help, and I’ve seen with my eyes that we are not alone. Kids have come up to me and said they’re praying for our country and that they hope it will finish very soon. Hearing that from kids shows once again that here, people stay with you.”

Tickets for the game are available now