Gary Neville has claimed that Arsenal summer signing, Oleksandr Zinchenko, is ‘not a leader’, as he told the Overlap.
The former Manchester United defender was questioning whether a player like Oleksandr Zinchenko can push Arsenal over the line when they face difficult moments next season.
That was a reason behind them finishing fifth last term, with defeats against Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, towards the back end of last season, all resulting in a final hurdle collapse, as they chased Champions League football.
Both Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus were purchased from Manchester City and are the two standout additions to Mikel Arteta’s squad this summer.
Quality-wise there aren’t probably many question marks over their heads, but when talking about Arsenal’s new £32 million Ukraine star (Sky Sports), Neville was unsure whether he can drag them over the line when it matters most.
“On the pitch in difficult moments who in that team (is going to get Arsenal over the line)?” asked Neville.
“I have watched Zinchenko. He’s not a leader. I love him to bits. He’s not a leader on the pitch.
“Is he going to in the difficult moments of the season be able to pull it all together? He might do.”
ZINCHENKO IS A TOP TRANSFER PURCHASE BY ARSENAL
The new Premier League season is upon us all and the broadcasters have decided that it’s Arsenal that will kick off proceedings once again.
Last season, they suffered a defeat at Brentford, now it’s another London side, a much tougher test, as they make the short trip to Selhurst Park to lock horns with Crystal Palace.
With Kieran Tierney still out injured, Arsenal’s new versatile star will be expected to play at left-back and make his debut for the club.
The last player to take that spot against Palace was a certain Nuno Tavares – who has since been loaned to Marseille – and he struggled big time in that game, so Zinchenko will be hoping for a much quieter start.
Either way, all the noises that have been made by the Gunners this summer will now go out of the window because the real stuff will now begin.
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