Russian midfielder Arsen Zakharyan displayed clear frustration after being left out of Real Sociedad's matchday squad for their Saturday victory over RCD Espanyol at the Reale Arena. According to a report from Marca, the player left the bench in a poor manner when manager Pellegrino Matarazzo made his fifth and final substitution.
RCD Espanyol, sitting tenth in La Liga with 3 points from three games, suffered their second consecutive loss in San Sebastián. The Periquitos have scored 5 goals and conceded 4 so far this season, leaving them 4 points behind leaders Atlético Madrid. Their next fixture is against Getafe on November 29th, a match listed on our fixtures page.
What did Zakharyan do on the bench?
Arsen Zakharyan had been warming up during the second half in anticipation of coming on. However, when Matarazzo made his decisive fifth change, he chose Jon Gorrotxategi instead. At that moment, Zakharyan returned to the bench, removed his training bib in a visibly upset manner, and headed straight for the dressing room. The Russian midfielder did return quickly to be present for the final whistle, but the gesture did not go unnoticed.
This incident highlights a difficult season for the player, who has barely featured for his manager. In the two previous matchdays, Zakharyan had played only the last three minutes against Real Betis at La Cartuja. His lack of minutes is another detail in the team's overall situation, with detailed stats available on our stats page.
Why is this reaction significant?
Zakharyan's frustration is not an isolated episode but a symptom of an investment that has failed to deliver. Real Sociedad paid Dynamo Moscow 12 million euros in the summer of 2023 for a player then hailed as one of Russian football's biggest promises. Three seasons later, the balance sheet is negative. According to the Marca report, Zakharyan has barely made an impression at the Basque club, hampered also by several physical problems.
The summer of 2026 presented an opportunity to move him on, but Real Sociedad found no buyer. This leaves the player in a tough spot heading into his fourth campaign in San Sebastián, where all signs point to him having a very minor role under Pellegrino Matarazzo.
What does this mean for Zakharyan's future?
The outlook for Arsen Zakharyan at Real Sociedad appears complicated. With the transfer window closed and a lack of trusted minutes, his prospects at the club are limited. The squad, which can be reviewed on our player list, continues to compete in mid-table, fighting for points to close in on European places.
The Saturday incident against Espanyol underscores the disconnect between initial expectations and current reality. The 12-million-euro investment is reported, by the cited outlet, to be pointing towards ruinous. Zakharyan now faces the task of winning back his manager's trust in a context of little faith, as the team prepares for its next league challenge. The current standings, available on the league table, show a very tight championship where every point matters.
