He is the only weak point in their defense now, Arteta can never win the league having Him on the pitch’: Man united legend Rio Ferdinand says Arteta must bench £60m defender in other for Him to compete for the title
Two injuries to Arsenal this season are now proving to be problematic for Mikel Arteta.
Jurrien Timber dropped out of action in August, but recently, the in-form Takehiro Tomiyasu was also forced to the sidelines.
It means that Oleksandr Zinchenko is now earning more minutes than usual at left-back, which Owen Hargreaves thinks is a problem.
The former Bayern Munich midfielder described the former Manchester City player as Arsenal’s ‘only weakness’, as he told Premier League Productions (11/12/23 at 2:30 pm).
Owen Hargreaves stated that ‘the rest of the team is good enough to win the league’, but he cast his doubt on Oleksandr Zinchenko.
During Arsenal’s most-recent Premier League defeat, he was at fault for John McGinn’s opening goal after he allowed Leon Bailey to twist him and turn him inside out from Aston Villa’s right flank – Tony Adams was ‘laughing’ at the versatile Arsenal star.
That was something that Arsenal fans knew was a weakness before the Villa Park trip and then it came to fruition.
Oleksandr Zinchenko’s defending for Arsenal
“Don’t you think Zinchenko, as good a ball player he is, don’t you think you need a little something different at left-back,” questioned Hargreaves.
“I know he comes into midfield and creates overloads. That goal (against Aston Villa) is from him being out of position. Stop coming into midfield! You aren’t doing anything, just be a defender.
“I’ll be honest, for me, it’s your only weakness, the left-back. I think the rest of the team is good enough to win the league.
“But I wouldn’t be amazed if Mikel (Arteta) and Edu aren’t thinking ‘right, do we get another centre-back? And play like Pep, such as Gvardiol at left-back’ or do you go and get a classic left-back.”
Arsenal in the January transfer window
It’s going to be interesting to see what door Arsenal knock on in January, as they bid to enhance and boost their squad for a Premier League title charge.
Some are talking about a number nine being needed. Perhaps a centre-back, after William Saliba’s injury cost them last season.
But FFP also will play its part because Arsenal can only spend what they can, so this could be very tricky.
Last January, they spent the entire month trying to sign targets who, in the end, either stayed at their clubs or went elsewhere.
Those in the boardroom at Arsenal can’t waste that time again because it will prove to be costly.
