Oleksandr Zinchenko is striving for relevance with his recent performances for Arsenal.
Zinchenko was one player who most Arsenal fans would have preferred to see leave this summer. The Ukrainian international had a disappointing 2023–24 season, with his inverted fullback role making him a liability as teams exploited the space he left behind, and wingers also gave him a run for his money because he was always struggling at 1 v 1’s.
The Ukrainian’s struggles at left back, along with injuries, made him a liability in Arsenal’s defence, forcing Arteta to opt for alternative options, including Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior, to fill in the position.
Arsenal signed Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna this summer to end their struggles at left back, and everyone is confident the Italian will secure the position. Looking at Zinchenko’s last two performances at LB against Leverkusen and Lyon, however, you can’t help but think he’s recovering his initial Arsenal form and putting him in contention for left back.
There has been a noticeable improvement in how crisp he has appeared technically, which was not present last season. He seemed to be enthralled by the prospect of becoming a peripheral member of Arteta’s Arsenal squad. He now demonstrates a strong sense of purpose and intent in his passes, and he is adept at cutting through the midfield. We almost thought him a flop, but he looks like a rediscovered asset.
If he maintains his fitness and builds on his momentum, Arteta will undoubtedly have to offer him more minutes than initially planned.
Darren N
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No, nothing permanent has changed with Zinchenko just because of his performance in two preseason friendlies. We still need no weak links in the back.
That’s right, Ziny never was, is and never will be a defender. Every team from the big six will use his presence in the attacking phase.
When we lost our lead to MC the year before last, everyone says it was due to the injury to our Rolls-Royce, but it was also the loss of dominance in the match against Liverpool when the equalizer went right through Zini’s defence.
He is not under real pressure in friendlies.
The mistakes will come nack
Everyone makes mistakes, but Zinchenko is a known liability as a defender and we should not forget that just because he had a good couple of games when he was not exposed.
We’ll need Zinchenko’s playmaking and technical abilities, because Wolves would likely park the bus at the Emirates
Our other LBs don’t have those attacking abilities, except Timber and Lewis-Skelly. But Timber can’t pass incisively with his left foot and Lewis-Skelly has never played in EPL
This is typical of arsenal players. They performs wonders during pre season and becomes flops during the campaign. Let us not be fooled by Zinny and Jesus performances. Thank God we’ve got a quality replacement on LB. Let’s also get a goal scoring striker.
Zinchenko’s attacking ability was one of the reasons why we were able to break tough defenses in the last two seasons
Correct…and his injuries last year meant Martinelli suffered I believe.
I think Arteta should give him a chance. If he proves up to it, that’s great. If not, then at least he’s had an early opportunity.
We should be talking about how the new signings and exciting youngsters coming up through the youth system are going y make us a force to content with. Instead at this stage we are trying to stay positive by hoping that the same fringe players who failed to deliver will suddenly become world beaters. A little bit rosy eyed don’t you think ?although I hope I’ll be wrong. Otherwise we’ll be bitterly disappointed this coming season.
We haven’t had a good solid left since Monreal .
I don’t think Calafiori was signed for that position either so if he wasn’t I can still see zinchenko starting their in our first game .
He’s certainly looked good and is our best option to start the season. One thing I’ve noticed is that he’s not dwelling on the ball as long as he used to.His play making abilities will benefit our left wingers.
We all know his defensive weaknesses and there’s no need to dwell on that-it has been covered extensively.But we also know what he gives us on the ball in a way that nobody else in the squad can.
While he struggles against fast and tricky wingers, we don’t face that kind of winger everyday.When we face the Mo Salahs of this world, we have other options who are better defensively.
OT : I think Myles Lewis could be the eventual successor to Zinchenko. He’s comfortable out wide and drifting into midfield. I have feeling Calafiori will start at LB but in time he’ll play at left Centre back.
I think depending on the match we will go with 3 at the back.
SALIBA GABRIEL CALAFIORI
White and Zinch potentially as wing backs
That leaves 5
So Rice & Odegarrd
Saka Havertz and Jesus / Martinelli
Thoughts ?
I don’t think Zinchenko has the skillset to play as a wing back. Doesn’t have the running power to bomb up and down the wings. He’s more comfortable centrally. He’s the kind of person you want receiving the ball from the keeper to build play.
Having wing backs also means you sacrifice one midfielder and your opponent can easily outnumber you in midfield. I’d rather have more midfielders in the team.
Arsenal already use a back three anyway in certain phases of the game with one fullback inverting into midfield. I think that’s better than having wing backs because it doesn’t take away from the midfield. It increases the numbers in midfield.
Trossard
The Ukrainian will always be close to the gaffer as he follows instructions to a tee.
Got caught upfield constantly on counter attacks, with no recovery pace. Just Google the Liverpool game and you will see the same patterns in the other friendlies.
It’s a no from me.
👍👍
I agree. Constantly caught out like we saw against Liverpool. After 2 meaningless friendlies some are ready to overlook his shortcomings.
Time we move on from both Zinchenko and Jesus as we have outgrown them like City did.
We will never win PL or CL if we are relying on Zinchenko at LB and Jesus as striker.
City sold them both and leveled up further. We must do the same if we want to progress as well.
You pointed out two meaningless friendlies, what was the Liverpool game then, a meaningful friendly? Balanced criticism, that’s what I always advocate, and not hypocrisy and double standards.
So who would you start against Wolves? The new signing who still not adjusted yet? An unfit Timber? With all respect to Wolves,they are not Liverpool. Zinchenko will just fine against them.
Kiwior, he performed admirably during his abscence and did nothing wrong? If anything we looked more solid at the back which left Jorghino and Rice to be more progressive with there movement and passing. Zinny comes back and you see Rice and Jorghinio running around trying to cover the massive gap that appears in the centre of defence because Gabriel is trying to cut down the space/gap that is left by Zinnys vacation.
But we have an abundance of left sided defenders. Tommi when fit, Timber allegedly can play left back as well as Lewis-Skelly. And let’s not forget Tierney
So any of the above instead of Zinchenko.
Kiwior actually had some poor performances particularly against Bayern and that saw him lose his spot to Tomiyasu. So it’s actually not Zinchenko who ‘came back’. Kiwior lost his spot to Tomiyasu. Zinchenko was on the bench as well,only coming on as a substitute.
Gabriel defending the space left by Zinchenko is by design. When Zinchenko moves centrally to help with ball progression, his teammates are drilled to fill that gap because he can’t be in two places at the same time. It’s all part of the rotation of players.
I’m not saying play Zinchenko in every game. This article is specifically about the Wolves game. Truth is Zinchenko has looked good in the last couple of games. That’s a good enough reason to start him.And it’s not like Wolves are prime Real Madrid.
After the Wolves game, we can have another discussion on who should play. By then Timber/Calafiori will probably be ready. As for this weekend,it has to be Zinchenko. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t start.
I think we all know than Zinchenko will start on Saturday but I still see him as a liability.
You point out that Kiwior had a few poor games as LB, which is a fair point but compared to Zinnys mistakes they are a drop in the ocean considering that he is a CB whereas Zinny was bought as a LB. Tommy replaced Kiwior when he became fit, there was a reason why Zinny was on the bench when he was available.
I understand our style of play which really proves my point. Zinny is incapable to recover when he is over the half way line so should not be starting as a left back even if it’s Real Madrid, Liverpool or Wolves as he is to much of a risk. If we can see the weaknesses of his game then I am sure Gary O’Neil will.
So if there is any reason of doubt why risk it. Its like asking a dog to guard your dinner.
Spot on NB. Very good comments on the LB situation.
Maybe the arrival of Calafiori has put a spring in his step. However as mentioned a few times above, these were friendlies so can’t read too much into it.
I just don’t see Zinni as a LB in any case, but neither as a DM as he would probably still bomb forward too often.