How will Arsenal line up with Zinchenko?
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 22 Jul 2022 18:24 BST
- 3 min read
Arsenal have completed the signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City on a four-year deal.
Zinchenko, who moves for €37.5 million (£32m), will become the Gunners’ fifth arrival of the summer transfer window, with the Emirates club having strengthened impressively so far.
Indeed, he becomes the second player to join up from Man City, following in the footsteps of Gabriel Jesus, who has made a strong start to life with the Gunners by scoring three times in his first two outings.
While Jesus’ role in the Arsenal side is easily defined, though, it is less clear how Ukraine international Zinchenko will fit into the team.
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Three solutions for Zinchenko
The 25-year-old has primarily been used as a left-back by Guardiola at Manchester City, but for his international side he has been used in central midfield.
Quite how Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta plans to utilise him is unclear, but the likelihood is that he will flirt between these two roles when necessary.
Certainly, left-back Kieran Tierney has not lacked for quality with Arsenal, but the Scotland star has struggled to stay consistently fit. A high-quality backup option was, therefore, required. Zinchenko fits this bill perfectly – and indeed he could even challenge to be the regular starter.
Equally, though, Arsenal have been on the hunt for another defensive midfield player. Similarly, Zinchenko can fit into this position without any problems, with his use of the ball a notable strength in that position.
Arteta, then, has two major options when picking Zinchenko in his first team. He could come in as a direct replacement for any of Tierney, Granit Xhaka or Thomas Partey when required.
Furthermore, Zinchenko’s dynamism on the left means that should Arsenal fancy a switch away from their regular 4-2-3-1 towards a 3-4-3, he could also play in that role. This could allow Tierney or William Saliba, who has impressed in pre-season, to feature on the left of a three-man defence.
Zinchenko’s arrival at Arsenal, then, gives Arteta plenty of options. The one he picks is likely to be determined by who is fit on any given day.
