Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Opinion
I saw £30m Arsenal star prove that Mikel Arteta has been playing him in the wrong position against PSV
In truth, Arsenal’s second leg tie against PSV Eindhoven felt like something of an exhibition match at the Emirates Stadium, a pre-season friendly almost.
After winning 7-1 in the Netherlands, Arsenal deservedly took their foot off the gas against PSV, explaining why the game on t๊he night ultimately f🌺inished in a 2-2 draw.
Mikel Arteta made several changes for the ma﷽tch, and even he didn’t seem too﷽ frustrated that Arsenal let their lead slip twice.
It was a night about celebrating a few of Arsenal’s fringe pla🎃yers, those who play an important role behind the scenes but aren’t oft🏅en seen on the pitch.
And both Oleksandr Zinchenko and Raheem Sterling will have enjoyed their chance to show their worth from the start in𓆉 the Champions League 𓂃– two excellent performers.
Mikel Arteta hasn’t been getting the best out of Oleksandr Zinchenko
That being said, it was evident from inside the Emirates on Wednesday evening that there’s still a lot of support for Zinchenko in particular, even if he might be🐎 destined to leave the club in the summer.
Borussia Dortmund wanted Zinchenko in January, and it seems as if the former Manchester City player will start a new chapter in a few month’s ti𒊎me.
Of course, Zinchenko played ꦫin a di❀fferent position against his old club PSV – the Ukrainian was returned to a midfield role that he often played before coming to England.
In fact, Zinchenko is still predominantly usꦬed as a midfielder for his country, a role that better suits♔ his skill-set.
And when watching Zinche🦹nko thrive as an advanced midfielder at the Emirates, it was hard not to conclude tha♓t Arteta has been playing him out of position over the years.
Pep Guardiola also liked Zinchenko as an inverted full-back – his quality on the ball is unquestionable, but City were ultimately happy to sell for ,꧑ which should have rang alarm bells.
Oleksandr Zinchenko could have replaced Granit Xhaka
ꩵAt first, Zinchenko was crucial for Arse🦄nal as an inverted full-back – he was the trailblazer for a new style under Arteta.
But as the seasons went on a♚nd Zinchenko kept being exposed defensively, Arteta should have immediately ch❀anged his plan.
READ MORE: Zinchenko sharജes what he𝓀 told Odegaard and Rice about playing in Arsenal’s midfield against PSV
Had Arsenal being using Zinchenko solely as a mid🃏fielder over the las𝔍t year or so, he might not even be destined to leave the club.
At 28-yꦏears-old, Zinchenko has so much experience of winning – just look at his four league titles with City.
And Arsenal will be losing a lot of character and skill should the Ukrainian leave in the summer, a situation that could have turned out differently were he u🐲sed in midfield.
Arsenal have struggled with their left-sided number eight role ever since Granit Xhaka left, and it now seems a little too late fo💖r Zinchenko to have a renaissance in the posiꩵtion.
Zinchenko is ready to leave Arsenal, and it is the right time for al🐻l parties to m💃ove on.