Oleksandr Zinchenko Put on Notice as Former Arsenal Star Claims He’s Surplus to Requirements

Oleksandr Zinchenko Put on Notice as Former Arsenal Star Claims He’s Surplus to Requirements

Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko has come under scrutiny from former player William Gallas, who believes the Gunners have outgrown the Ukrainian international following back-to-back title failures.

Zinchenko joined Arsenal in 2022 from Manchester City for £30 million and quickly established himself as the starting left-back under Mikel Arteta. However, last season saw him frequently sidelined by Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior, raising questions about his future at the club.

With the imminent arrival of Riccardo Calafiori, who is expected to cost around £42 million, Gallas argues that Zinchenko’s position at Arsenal is at risk. He suggests that the defender’s inconsistent performances have prompted the club to seek improvements in their backline. Gallas remarked, “I think Zinchenko had similar problems when he was at Manchester City. He didn’t play in many of their big games because Pep Guardiola felt his defensive abilities were limited.”

While acknowledging Zinchenko’s talent in possession and his counter-attacking prowess, Gallas criticized his defensive capabilities, stating, “He makes mistakes under pressure, and he has made a lot of mistakes at Arsenal, which is why they are looking to improve their defense.”

Gallas further emphasized that Arsenal’s style of play has evolved beyond what Zinchenko can offer. “Football is constantly evolving,” he explained. “Over the last few years, we’ve seen teams ask their left-backs and right-backs to move into midfield and build play from the back. Now, the focus seems to be on solid defensive capabilities.”

As the trend shifts towards a more robust back four, Gallas believes Zinchenko may struggle to adapt to the demands of modern football. “We’re in a period that favors real defenders,” he concluded, indicating that Zinchenko’s time at Arsenal could be coming to an end.