It is now important that Mikel Arteta can find a way to get the most out of an Arsenal player who struggled to impress last season.
Overall, Arsenal were in superb form last season, amassing 89 Premier League appearances and winning the name race with Manchester City all the way.
Key Gunners players such as Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and William Saliba have been bastions of quality and consistency during the campaign.
However, Mikel Arteta continues the season and points out that one or two players have not met the criteria expected of them.
For example, Gabriel Jesus endured a torrid period in front of goal, scoring only 4 goals in the Premier League. While it’s true that injuries hampered his campaign, Arsenal still needed more from him. However, Jesús was revitalized in the preseason and has a lot to prove.
Similarly, Oleksandr Zinchenko had a crusade to forget. After the end of the season, the Ukrainian himself admitted it in a post on Instagram. Arsenal cannot bring passengers and Arteta will have to find a way to get the left-back back. return to his best level.
After the signing of Riccardo Calafiori and the recovery of Jurrien Timber, it is possible that this time Arsenal will be less dependent on Zinchenko. However, we will have to not know how intelligent the Manchester City coach can be.
Upon his arrival at Emirates Stadium in the summer of 2022, Zinchenko was a revelation. His opposite interpretation of the left-back role, which sees him roaming around midfield and acting as an auxiliary playmaker, has reshaped the way Arsenal play.
Arteta once told the media, quoted via the club’s official website: “We love Alex, he has given us a lot, he has given us a lot and he lives up to it with other qualities. “
However, the 27-year-old is prone to defensive lapses. Arteta gave the impression of having lost religion in Zinchenko last season, describing the player as a “relic”, wondering about his future.
However, given that Arsenal have given Zinchenko a new team number, which means a lot to him, it looks like he will remain in north London. If he manages to return to his most productive form, then the Emirates Stadium faithful will be extremely happy not to go anywhere.
Odegaard recently spoke to Zinchenko about Lionel Messi, stating how loved and talented he is. Even with all the characteristics that Arteta has in this component of the field, the Ukrainian foreigner with 66 caps still has something to offer.
The challenge of getting normal playing time with Timber, Calafiori, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Jakub Kiwior also fighting for the same spot on the team will be smart for Zinchenko. At the very least, whoever is able to get the left-back spot will have to do so. are more productive to do so.
The Gunners want to introduce and embrace this point of celebration within the team. The challenge that sporting director Edu now faces is recruiting players who may pose a risk to Arsenal’s stars.