Arsenal’s quest to win this season’s Premier League title continues today when they take on West Ham United at the London Stadium.
The Gunners had won seven league matches on the bounce before drawing 2-2 with Liverpool at Anfield last weekend. They now sit three points clear of second-placed Manchester City in the current standings, although the reigning champions have a vastly superior goal difference.
Mikel Arteta’s side will be without centre-back William Saliba for the trip to east London this afternoon and some fans have begun to theorise that left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko could be missing too. Both Zinchenko and Ben White didn’t partake in training on Tuesday, with the club allaying injury fears by confirming the two defenders were merely having a separate gym session.
However, White can be seen training in the latest round of pictures from Saturday whilst there was still no sign of Zinchenko. Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has also decided to bench the Ukrainian international in his Fantasy Premier League team, perhaps a hint that the former City fullback won’t be starting against the Hammers today.
Of course, this could all merely be a coincidence and the 26-year-old may well be named in Mikel Arteta’s starting line-up this afternoon. Since arriving at the Emirates Stadium last summer, Zinchenko has been crucial in his side’s upturn in form, slotting in as an inverted fullback in possession to improve the north Londoners’ ability in the build-up phase whilst also utilising his progressive passing ability to help them unlock deep blocks on a number of occasions this term.
If Zinchenko is named on the bench, it will likely be Kieran Tierney that takes his place at left-back. Tierney has struggled for consistent game time this season, starting just four times in the league, causing plenty of rumours regarding his future with the club.
However, Invincibles right-back Lauren has urged his old club to keep the Scottish international as a squad player. Speaking about the ex-Celtic star to sportingpost.com, Lauren said: “I don’t see why he should go. If Arsenal don’t need the money, why would you sell him?
“He’s a very good player. We saw it against Spain in the recent international for Scotland and he played very well. He understands the ideas of Arteta now – rather than being in the wide areas, tucking inside and being like another midfield player, receiving the ball from the centre backs and then starting the moves from there.
“You need everyone and you need Kieran to be in the squad. You never know from now, anything can happen with injuries and he needs to be focused and to play the way he is being asked by Arteta.
“For next year it depends on what he wants. If he wants to be in a team week-in, week-out then it’s his decision. But for Arsenal you need the bigger squad and they should keep him.”
