Paul Merson is not so confident in Oleksandr Zinchenko as Arsenal challenges for the Premier League title this season.
The Gunners have some of the best players in England in most spots on their team and Mikel Arteta considers Zinchenko a top left-back.
The Ukrainian was signed because he offers more going forward than most players in his position do.
Because of this, he has been a key player in the Arsenal squad in the last two seasons.
However, his defending has never made the headlines for the right reason as he is often caught out by attacking players.
Zinchenko does not offer much solidity in that area and that worries Merson who said, as quoted by the Daily Mail:
‘Arsenal are a different team now.
‘They’ve learned a lot from last season and Declan Rice has taken them to another level. I think they will go on and win it now.
‘This could be their problem: The left-back. That’s poor defending [against Liverpool].
‘That’s my worry. I think they need Zinchenko for games against bottom-half teams, where they can go and play and dominate the game, but when they play the big boys [they don’t].’
Just Arsenal Opinion
Zinchenko is one of the players we know that Arteta loves because he looks fit for his system at the Emirates.
However, the defender must do much better in the defensive phase of the game, otherwise, we will keep struggling in his spot.
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Sorry off topic, (though Zinchenko worries me too) but not only have Man City nicked one of our famous kits from a few years ago but also Arteta’s tactics!
I agree with Paul Merson. Zinchenko is a huge, gaping hole in the Arsenal defense. A liability that’s always going to come back and bite Arsenal.
It’s just amazing how wishful thinking sometimes blunts the mind. How Arteta thought he could ever stop Mo Salah with Zinchenko is beyond comprehension. Zinchenko’s defensive abilities are an illusion.
Agree. I hope we’re good enough to continue overcoming the situation sufficiently to win the title.
Nothing beyond comprehension there. It’s not like he had a choice. Tomiyasu & Timber were out due to injury. Kiwior hasn’t played for long to be thrown into such a huge game. Zinny was the only option unfortunately.
Kiwior was acquired for roughly £21 million and he has looked more than sufficient defensively when playing left back (certainly much better than Zinny has imo). Zinny was the only option in the game plan which MA chose for the match. If MA doesn’t rate him for whatever reason(s) now, we need to acquire another left back in the January window.
Zenchenko is our 3 rd Choise left back if all are fit . I wish we had KT who I believe if Arteta trusts and of Course injury free then we could have used him . If we can get a decent fee for KT then fine . Loaning him him will not do any good to us .
On Zenchenko though I don’t want to seep him as there are times when he may be needed to control games against lower block
In the gaffer’s eyes , the juice is worth the squeeze.
Zinny makes us more press resistant while enabling the team overwhelming ball possession especially in a 3 : 1 : 3 : 3 formation
Zinchenko is a complete liability especially when the opposition put balls over the top or down the line for their forwards to chase. If he’s picked at all it should be in his natural midfield position. Kiwior is a far better defender and that is a fullbacks primary job, to defend.