Michael Owen has shared his thoughts on Oleksandr Zinchenko’s defending as Arsenal recorded a 1-1 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday.
Before the game, many Arsenal fans would have been worried at the prospect of Oleksandr Zinchenko coming up against one of the world’s best, Mohamed Salah.
As the versatile Arsenal star proved against Aston Villa a number of weeks ago, he can’t handle or defend against those quick-footed wingers – at Villa Park, it was Leon Bailey. This time around it was Mohamed Salah.
Michael Owen thinks that Oleksandr Zinchenko is a ‘weakness’ for Mikel Arteta’s side, but he also thinks he is a ‘strength’ because of what he can do when he comes into the middle of the park, as he told Premier League Productions (23/12/23 at 7:45 pm).
Well, that weakness showcased its ugly head again because the £32 million signing couldn’t prevent Liverpool’s superstar on the right from scoring.
After a delightful ball was pinged over the top by Trent Alexander-Arnold, it left Arsenal’s left-back isolated 1 v 1 with Mohamed Salah.
And as you would expect, he cut onto his left foot with ease and buried the ball into the back of the net.
Oleksandr Zinchenko’s defending
“It’s the weakness, but it’s also the strength in certain ways,” said Owen. “When Zinchenko goes in and actually makes an extra body in midfield, then it can be an advantage. We can say the exact same thing about Trent Alexander-Arnold. He does the same.
“It was Trent who knocked the ball over into that area and Mo Salah who galloped onto it. It was always going to be the dangerous position. He was in a good position, defensively he wasn’t in the worst position, it’s what he did after.”
Arsenal top of the tree
Would Arsenal fans have accepted a draw before the game started? Last season, that point hurt them because they were 2-0 up and it was much deeper into the season.
You can’t exactly tell how much of an effect this point will have now because there is still a long way to go.
But one thing is a fact and that’s Arsenal, once again, sitting top of the Premier League table at Christmas.
Many expect Arsenal to be there again during the final months of the campaign, it’s just a case of, what have they learnt.
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