Former Premier League goalkeeper Paddy Kenny believes Mikel Arteta promised Oleksandr Zinchenko regular playing time this season before he agreed to move to the Arsenal.
The Ukrainian had been on the books of Manchester City, and his spell with the champions was trophy-laden.
He was still almost guaranteed to win some more if he had remained at the Etihad, but he followed in the steps of Gabriel Jesus and moved to the Emirates.
At City, he rarely played and was way behind on the pecking order. However, at the Emirates, he would get more playing chances.
Kenny believes the only reason he would swap Manchester for London is if he is guaranteed regular playing chances.
He tells Football Insider: “It’s a great signing and I’m sure Arsenal fans will be excited to see him come in and join this exciting squad.
“He needs to start every game now, that’s what he wanted and I’m sure he has been promised that by Arteta.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
Zinchenko is a good signing, and the move will benefit him and the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta knows him very well, and the Spanish manager will employ him in his best possible position.
The Ukrainian will also get to play as many matches as he wants, which is the dream of every football player.
So if everyone is fit and he starts….who sits bench for him?
Pretty sure Admin Martin was being hyperbolic when he said “every” game. And there’s the probability also that we won’t go more than 5 games this year where every position that Zinchenko can cover will have the starter available….
My apologies for attributing that quote to Martin… I’m “hoping” that Paddy Kenny was being hyperbolic, otherwise, regardless of being a former EPL player, he has no idea about the league these days. It is damn near impossible for ANY EPL player to play every game, especially if their team is playing European football.
Paddy Kenny,another oracle of football knowledge and intelligence who is unaware that not one player in the EPL starts every game.Yet another pundit who’s articles I shall ignore in future.
Probably Arteta offered him more chances and opportunities in midfield than what Pep could offer at City.
Who knows except Arteta and Zinchenko. At least I acknowledge I’m only guessing, something that pundit would be wise to do, otherwise he may show himself to be a fool.
The way partey is injured he’ll probably start alongside Xhaka in midfield
He doesn’t leave City to be Tierney’s back up that is clear as day. He’s been offered the opportunity to compete more regularly for more attacking positions with the caveat that he covers LB for us to an extent whilst Nuno goes out on loan (and Nuno only goes out on loan if we can find an appropriate club willing to take him without an option to buy him.) The 5 sub rule as well guarantees he comes off the bench basically every game he sits there too.
With a fully fit squad I expect he’ll compete for Xhaka’s current role in the 1st team when Xhaka or someone else is preferred then he comes off the bench for LB, CM or LW depending on those players games and the match situation. Nursing a lead he’s a solid LW option for instance.
He may well also be considered Partey’s direct back up too. That position is interesting this year. Lokonga is highly thought of long-term there although he could be 8 potentially whilst Patino and Azeez are thought of well and DM’s themselves. Currently Elneny might be considered the ideal back up but you have White who has to compete with Saliba who can play there and ZInchenko who could potentially play there.
This is why imo we are not in the market for a DM despite many on here insisting we need to be. We have too many future options in Lokonga/Patino/Azeez that we believe in whilst having appropriate short term options in Elneny/White/Zinchenko behind Partey.
He hasn’t come to us for £35 million to be a back up sitting on the bench and he hasn’t come to us to be a left back either…….
I belive that if Zinny stays fit he will play other every Prem game or almost all.
He will quickly prove himself a key member of the first eleven!
Paddy who?
Nobody gets guaranteed game time these days, every sensible coach wants to be able to bench under-performing players. Human beings, without incentives, do nothing.
Zinchenko will have a belief that his normal level of play will get him a place in the starting 11. He spent a lot of time at City playing well but not getting a game all that often which is what he’s trying to change by coming here.