Ian Wright has backed Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Magalhaes to return to the XI for Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Manchester United.
Amid the craziness of the final few days of the 2023 summer transfer window, there is the small matter of Arsenal v Manchester United at the Emirates on Sunday.
Heading into that game, Mikel Arteta has some big calls to make, with Wright backing Gabriel and Oleksandr Zinchenko to come ‘back in’, as he told Premier League Productions (28/08/23 at 2:45 pm).
For Zinchenko, it’s a case of, is he fit enough to start? If he is, then he will come back in because he has missed the whole summer through injury.
But it has been a different story for Gabriel, who has been dropped to the bench by Arteta, which Wright has previously spoken about.
Nonetheless, with Thomas Partey playing at right-back, and fans thinking it isn’t working, Wright shared what Arteta needs to do for the weekend.
“I can see what he is trying to do,” said Wright about Partey at RB. “He is trying to get an extra man inside the midfield, so you can keep the play moving. Another midfield in there.
“But when Zinchenko comes, then you have got Declan Rice, who likes to play on the left. There are a lot of things he has to do. Is Zinchenko going to come in? Is he going to play White, Saliba, Gabriel and Zinchenko when he comes back? Is it Partey and Rice (in midfield)?
“I think fans would like to see (Arteta) go back to normality. I think, if you are going to try something, then you try it at this stage of the season to see how it works because I think, at the end of last season, he was starting to use Partey in that position.
“Not sure it’s working too much, in respect of the fans. I don’t mind him dropping in there.
On upcoming games: “I will get the back four back in, with Ben White, Saliba, Gabriel and Zinchenko, then Zinchenko inverts in, then what happens with Declan Rice? Does he go onto the right side? I know he can play on the left.”
Arsenal have missed Zinchenko
With the left-back in the treatment room and summer signing Jurrien Timber suffering that unfortunate season-ending injury, then it has made life difficult for Arteta.
He hasn’t been able to play that natural inverted fullback, instead, he has used Partey.
But now Zinchenko is back, Arteta will be hoping he remains fit because he is one of his most important players.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
