Apart from Newcastle, Arsenal is the most defensive team in the Premier League this season, having conceded only 16 goals (4 more than Newcastle).
Obviously, one might wonder what has changed with Arsenal’s defence this season. There are two differences between Arsenal’s defence this term and last season. The arrival of William Saliba and Oleksander Zinchenk changed everything. So, of the duo, who has impressed you?
William Saliba has been a vital player for Arsenal, and his impact has been felt despite his young age. He has been Mikel Arteta’s main defender and has been unbeatable by most forwards and wingers in the league.
He has played an important role in the team, and his outstanding performance this season may see him named to the Premier League team of the season.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, on the other hand, has been a standout player for Arsenal, and the difference he has made for the team is incredible.
He joined the Gunners in the summer from Manchester City in the English Premier League, and he has already settled in at the Emirates.
1. Creating 1v1 Positions For Saka & Martinelli By Using Inverted-Back :
Ben White makes the back three and Zinchenko comes to midfield as a inverted-back. The first main of using inverted-backs is creating 1v1 positions
for Saka and Martinelli to benefit from their 1v1 ability.+ pic.twitter.com/RBDIOgK9Mr— Between The Lines – Tactical Analysis (@betweenthline) January 29, 2023
Zinchenko has primarily played as a left-back for Arsenal, but due to his exceptional technical ability, he has a way in which during matches he also gets to play in midfield and occasionally forward in attack. He has proven to be difficult to beat for most forwards, allowing him to emerge as a key member of the squad.
So, which of the two new vArsenal defenders is the most important, in your opinion?
Daniel O
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All day Saliba
Defensively Saliba take this.
This should not even be up for debate. Defensively Zinchenko has been suspect. Our best defensive addition this season is definitely Saliba. But I’ll go ahead and say that our best defender this season has been Gabriel, what a colossal defender he’s been.
Yes. Magalhaes has been playing very well this season, despite not scoring as he did last season
Saliba is almost unbeatable as a CB, but he’s made plenty of fatal errors that were fortunately covered by our winning streak
Chapo
Perfectly said when talking about their defense.
Saliba has been our 2nd best defender (behind Gabriel) and slightly ahead of White in terms of best defenders.
Zinchenko is not a good defender, IMHO an average defender at best. He is behind the 3 above, as well as behind Tierney and Tomi, but ahead of Holding.
Zinchenko’s mark has been as inverted LB creating and recycling possession in the attack.
To ask or compare him with Saliba “defensively” is way off. To compare their influence is a better question asked.
You’re right it shouldn’t be up for a debate as we have just been schooled by Everton so who really cares about a nonsense debate
They have both bought in different attributes to the side and both play different positions so not really something you can judge ,Saliba is a rock but still has an error in him and zinchenko as missed a good few games but brings something different to the table we haven’t had for a few years .
White for me as been our best defender this season and IMO our overall best player ,looked leggy today but he put in a shift.
Just want to know if anyone knows who his dentist is ,proper pearly whites on that lad that’s for sure .
What a disappointing day today.
Hope we don’t fall into a malaise. We have noe lost 2 games in a row (City and Everton).
Lets go again..
The question said” a defender”.
As a defender, that question is akin to asking “is water wet or dry”!
SALIBA is better as a defender by a country mile.
It was the wrong question to ask and should have read “who is the more important player to Arsenal”.
That would have been a sensible question and open to proper discussion , unlike the question actually asked!
The title question does not relate at all to the question asked in the article.
Zinchenko is rather poor at defending.
He is a midfielder.. that’s where he plays for Ukraine. Pep and Arteta use him at LB. It’s not his fault
This is a very funny question.
Saliba is a proper defender.