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Troy Deeney says he thinks one Arsenal star is ‘borderline awful’ defensively
Arsenal fans are still waiting to see if Mikel Arteta’s men are going to take another step forward this season after two years of challenging for the Premier League title – but the early signs appear to be encouraging.
Of course, there was real frustration on Saturday as Brighton left the Emirates with a point. There was a lot of anger after Declan Rice received a contentious red card𝓀, but Arsenal looked to largely be in control before that incident. And it cannot be overstated how big their win at Aston Villa the previous week could prove to be given how strong Unai Emery’s side is looking.
🐻But there will be concerns. Obviously, the Manchester City machine is already looking very strong, and there are areas of the Gunners squad which still have question marks hanging over them – particularly when you consider how perfect they are going to have to be.
Both Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori are new to the Premier League, so they both have a point to prove in that inverted left-back role they can play. Timber has started the last two games, while Oleksandr Zinchenko🌸 was in the lineup for the opening day win over Wolves.
Troy Deeney says Arsenal player is ‘borderline awful’ defensively
𒁏Zinchenko has come in for criticism over the last 12 months. While he is more than comfortable when it comes to moving into midfield, he is not as strong when playing as a left-back. In fact, Troy Deeney♉ is clearly not convinced that he should be anywhere near that role if Arsenal are going to kick on this year.
🐻Speaking on Seaman Says, Deeney strongly suggested that Zinchenko is not the answer for what Mikel Arteta wants from his left-back, despite his quality.
💙“It requires a certain skillset to do it [moving into midfield], I think Zinchenko is great at doing that, but I think he’s not a very good defender, borderline awful to be totally honest with you,” he said.
ꩵ“He nearly cost you the game when he didn’t go for the header, and it’s a great save from Raya. I think he’s an unbelievably talented footballer, I just don’t think he’s a defender. He probably needs to go and play in midfield where he’s got some protection behind him.”
Victim of his own success
🐽Zinchenko is potentially in familiar territory with no obvious place for him in Arsenal’s team. When he left Manchester City, it appeared to be a real coup for the Gunners – with Arsenal finishing fifth in the Premier League just before he signed.
Along with Gabriel Jesus🥃, he appeared to play a massive part in driving standards up at the Emirates. Unfortunately, that has now elevated Arsenal into a position which has pushed him closer to the periphery once again.
As Deeney notes, there is so much to like about Zinchenko’s game, and he is potentially a contender to come into the side while Declan Rice❀ is suspended. But given the options Arsenal now have at left-back and in midfield – once Mikel Merino is fit – it does appear that the Ukrainian has got a real challenge on his hands to get regular minutes.