Arsenal's Everton win shows why they need Zinchenko badly
James Shearman
- Updated: 17 Jul 2022 12:27 BST
- 3 min read
Arsenal beat Everton 2-0 in the second of their preseason friendlies on Tuesday, courtesy of first-half goals scored by Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka.
The Gunners started well, with Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka in midfield, but fell off considerably in the second half.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Mohamed Elneny were not able to produce at the same level, and Mikel Arteta's side lost control of the game as a result.
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Arsenal fans are now calling for the club to complete the £30 million signing of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City.
The Gunners' starting lineup is strong, no doubt, but they currently lack the depth to see off competition from Chelsea or Tottenham for a top four spot in the Premier League next season.
Zinchenko would provide excellent cover in two of Arsenal's positions of need.
Why Arsenal need Zinchenko
First of all, Zinchenko represents a clear alternative to Kieran Tierney at left-back.
While the Scot has generally impressed since joining the north London side, he has proven to be injury prone and Arteta needs another option in that position.
Zinchenko, who featured in only 15 Premier League matches for Man City last season, would offer not only capable cover but serious competition.
But the Gunners have another area where they are seeking more depth: the centre of midfield.
The agreement between Arsenal and Manchester City for Oleksandr Zinchenko is in place since yesterday morning for £30m. Talks in progress on personal terms, salary being discussed to complete the deal. 🇺🇦 #AFC
Man City are still thinking of Marc Cucurella as priority target.— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 17, 2022
Zinchenko may be primarily known for his ability on the left side of defence in the Premier League, but when playing for Ukraine, he is deployed in the centre of the pitch.
He is hugely effective in that area as it allows him to exploit his capacity for progressive passing, something that he excels at. Moreover, he has the stamina and the technical ability to slot in this role.
Indeed, it may well be that Arteta sees him as an alternative solution in the heart of the midfield, where Arsenal have also been looking at the likes of Youri Tielemans and Lucas Paqueta.
Zinchenko, therefore, could be used as a perfect solution for Arsenal either in defence or midfield, and this versatility could save the club millions.
