on january 24, 2014, zelalem made his debut with arsenal's senior squad, coming on as a substitute for alex oxlade-chamberlain in the 71st minute of their 4–0 home fa cup victory against coventry city. and later that year, on march 18, 2014, zelalem signed a contract extension with arsenal to last until 2017. zelalem soon made his second appearance for arsenal, coming on as a substitute in the beginning of the second half, in a 4–1 away win against galatasaray in uefa champions league on december 9, 2014.