Arsenal is facing a left-back crisis this month as Jakub Kiwior struggles in that role, and Takehiro Tomiyasu will leave for a few weeks to play for Japan at the Asian Cup.
Oleksandr Zinchenko is the only natural player Arsenal has for that role after allowing Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares to leave the club on loan in the summer.
Tavares has never been good enough for the Gunners, and we all understand why they sent him to Nottingham Forest for game time.
However, Tierney was one of the best left-backs in the Premier League before Zinchenko moved to the Emirates and still does well when he plays.
But the Gunners agreed to loan him to Real Sociedad in the summer after failing to find a buyer for the Scotsman, a decision that baffles Chris Sutton.
He said on the It’s All Kicking Off Podcast:
“One thing I have scratched my head about is why did he let Kieran Tierney go? There’s nothing he could’ve done about Timber, but Kiwior going in at left-back and Tomiyasu coming on. They lack balance on that side and that seems to be a bit of a headscratcher that decision.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
Tierney is one of the players we all liked so much and enjoyed his dedication on the pitch when he played.
The left-back will do well in Spain if he stays fit, but he does not fit the system of Mikel Arteta, and we must back our gaffer over the ex-Celtic man.
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agree 1000% with you
Poor managerial tactics. Inexperience that’s one of Arteta’s biggest weaknesses, made worse by bias and favouritism.
Some of his decisions show no logic because his preferences are not all based on merit.
Similar headscratching can be applied to the Ramsdale situation.
Everybody will just want to lay claim to some form of wisdom, as if they know better.
As at the ending of last season zinchenko had due to his ability to invert, began to bench Tierney…
Then Justin timber at the beginning of the season before his injury mishap, the chances of Tierney getting enough playing time was certainly more than threatened.
Obviously a player of his caliber couldn’t be left wallowing on the bench.
Am not saying Arteta is perfect in his decision making every good manager has some kind of flaw, but seriously cut the guy some slack….. When were winning games the narrative here was totally different, a sudden dip in form and loyalties have changed quickly…
Just shows how fickle we are.
Is not recent dip in form it has been apparent since the very first game of the season that we are playing poorly to last season so is just a matter of time before it’s cashup the result might be there but the performance is shocking