Oleksandr Zinchenko’s outstanding form at Premier League leaders Arsenal has caught Dean Saunders by surprise, the former Liverpool forward hailing an ‘unbelievable’ talent who has taken his game to a whole new level under Mikel Arteta.
After playing a back seat role in Pep Guardiola’s all-star ensemble cast at Manchester City, Zinchenko is front and centre in Arteta’s Arsenal blockbuster these days.
The £30 million summer signing, like former Etihad Stadium team-mate Gabriel Jesus, is relishing a leading role in his new North London home; thriving in the hybrid full-back/playmaker position Arteta the student learned from his old, Manchester-based master.
“The mentality (is different) now,” Arsenal starlet Emile Smith Rowe tells The Athletic; highlighting not just Zinchenko’s quality but also the title-winning nous that could come in very handy.
“From pre-season, I could see on everyone’s faces how ready they all were. Zinchenko and Jesus just changed the whole dynamic. They’ve been there before, they know what it’s like to win.”
Oleksandr Zinchenko shining at Arsenal
Former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Saunders, meanwhile, admits to have been taken aback by a man who, even during his most impressive performances at City, still found himself overshadowed by the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez.
“Hands up who knew how good Zinchenko was?,” Saunders asks (talkSPORT, 29 March, 10pm); arguing that England’s Declan Rice could not get close to the one-time PSV loanee during Sunday’s Euro 2024 qualifier at Wembley.
“He was unbelievable for Ukraine. What about Declan Rice trying to get near him?”
Zinchenko has started 20 Premier League games for Arsenal and the Gunners have won all but five of them. His masterful display in the 4-0 hammering of Everton, meanwhile, was up there with the very best the division has seen over the last six months.
“He’s brought quality, he’s brought so much,” Bukayo Saka tells the Daily Mail. “You can see how he plays and how he controls game. He’s an outstanding player. He is not only a quality player, he has outstanding leadership qualities. He’s helping us on both fronts.”
“‘He’s got a bit of fire about him and he uses it in ways that help him. On the pitch he uses it to get him going and to win the duels. He also has that other side to him, the balance in his head he needs to play well.”
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