Vladimir Ponomarev, a former footballer who once wore the CSKA and USSR national team colors, weighs in on Artem Dzyuba’s trajectory with Lokomotiv Moscow. According to DEA News, the veteran backer believes this upcoming season could mark the final chapter for the striker at the highest level of competition.
Ponomarev observes that Dzyuba’s recent form has surprised many watchers. The forward has shown a level of agility and pace that few expected to endure at this stage of his career. Yet, the former star underscores a pragmatic truth: age inevitably narrows the window for staying among the sport’s elite. The projection, as he frames it, is that Dzyuba might deliver one last, memorable push before stepping away from the sport at the top tier. The sentiment isn’t a personal slight but a sober assessment grounded in years of first-hand observation of players who share his path. In Ponomarev’s view, the question for the 34-year-old striker isn’t whether he can still perform, but whether the effort to extend beyond this season would be worth the potential costs to his legacy.
From a tactical standpoint, Dzyuba’s presence in Lokomotiv’s lineup has been a notable asset since his arrival in February 2023. The club secured his signature with a contract that ran through the close of the 2023/24 season, with an option to extend for an additional year. That agreement positioned the forward to contribute immediately while allowing the club to gauge how much longer he could serve as a central figure in the attack. Observers noted that the contract’s flexibility reflected Lokomotiv’s willingness to balance ambition with financial prudence, especially after a period of recalibration and transition within the squad.
In terms of on-field impact, Dzyuba’s stat line for the prior season—13 appearances across all competitions, eight goals, and five assists—illustrates a productive contribution in a league known for its competitive balance and varied tactical setups. It’s a level of output that would bolster most teams’ ambitions, yet it also frames a narrative where his influence might gradually shift from being the focal point of a attack to a veteran presence who guides younger forwards and helps the squad maintain scale and discipline during tight fixtures. Lokomotiv’s coaching staff have long valued players who can blend experience with reliability, and Dzyuba’s role within that framework has been navigated with a balance of responsibility and opportunity.
Looking back at the broader context of Lokomotiv’s season, the club concluded the 2022/23 campaign in eighth place in the league standings. That placement provided a clear signal that changes were needed to return to contention for European places and to reestablish the club as a consistent challenger in domestic competitions. Within this environment, Dzyuba’s leadership and goals were often cited as anchors that could help steady the ship during periods of flux. The expectation has been that his presence would not only translate into scoring opportunities but also into tangible leadership for younger players who look up to someone who has competed at the highest levels for a decade or more.
There is also a human element to the conversation surrounding Dzyuba’s future. Behind the public performances and match reports lies the long arc of a player who has carried the pressures of expectations, the scrutiny of fans, and the intangible demands of maintaining form across a demanding schedule. Ponomarev’s remarks, while emphatic, reflect a candid mindset that is common among former athletes who have watched generations of talents come and go. In this sense, the discussion is less about a single season’s goals and more about the enduring arc of a career that intersects with personal decisions about timing and the cadence of life after football. It is a reminder that athletes at this level often face a crossroads where the choice to extend one more season comes with a trade-off between competitive drive and long-term well-being.
As Dzyuba’s story unfolds, analysts and fans alike will watch for signs of adaptation in Lokomotiv’s system. Teams with a veteran striker frequently adjust their shapes to retain effectiveness while leveraging his understanding of the game, his physical awareness, and his ability to bring others into play. A season framed as possibly the last at the top level could prompt shifts in training emphasis, match-by-match planning, and even mentorship roles that help the club sustain momentum through a transitional period. The conversations around his future are not only about the next handful of appearances but also about how a legacy is shaped by the choices made in this pivotal phase.
In the end, the football world remains attentive to the outcomes on the pitch. Dzyuba’s performances, their consistency, and the way he connects with teammates will influence how his career is remembered in Moscow and beyond. Ponomarev’s commentary serves as a reminder that even highly decorated players approach twilight seasons with a mix of resolve and reflection. Whether this season becomes the curtain call at the top level or whether a renewed surge emerges, the next chapters in Dzyuba’s career will be watched closely by Lokomotiv supporters, league observers, and future generations who study the arc of players who have left a lasting imprint on the game.