Arsenal ace Oleksandr Zinchenko could be a ‘weak’ link during Ukraine’s Euro 2024 qualifier against England with Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko better suited to that left-back berth, former international Viktor Leonenko argues.
Zinchenko may feature on the team sheet as a left-sided defender but, as Arsenal fans will tell you, the former Manchester City man does much of his best work in a different position.
A left-back in Mikel Arteta’s system, after all, is more of a playmaker than he is an overlapper; Zinchenko drifting into the centre of the park in a manner reminiscent of Philipp Lahm under Pep Guardiola.
Such an approach reaps considerable rewards at an Arsenal side who dominate 60 per cent of the possession on average in the Premier League (WhoScored). But, with Ukraine expected to do their fair share of defending at Wembley on Sunday afternoon, Leonenko hopes to see Zinchenko revert to a midfield role.
Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko should start for Ukraine vs England
“Zinchenko is very weak in defence,” Leonenko tells FanDay. “As a defender, Mykolenko is stronger than Zinchenko. Oleksandr is more of a midfielder.”
Mykolenko, who joined Everton from Dinamo Kiev back in January 2022, is not the most technically-gifted of footballers. What he does bring to the table, however, is a discipline, an aggression, and a determination.
Three attributes that could be key to keeping Bukayo Saka, should he start on England’s right-wing, in check.
“It is clear that it is better for him to play in midfield. Zinchenko is good in attack. But he does not know how to (defend),” adds Leonenko, capped 14 times by Ukraine in the 1990s. “Arsenal control the ball. In the national team, he will have to defend, which he does not know how to do.
“Zinchenko is a great football player, but definitely not a great one. Although he is a four-time champion of England, his contribution to Manchester City’s triumph is small.”
In Zinchenko’s defence, the one-time PSV loanee has taken his game to a whole new level under Mikel Arteta; that masterful display in the recent 4-0 thumping of Everton one of this season’s finest individual performances.
But Oleg Fedorchuk, a well-travelled head coach who has taken on a number of different roles in his home country, tends to agree with Leonenko’s assessment.
“Against England, you need to put Mykolenko in the defence,” Fedorchuk adds. “Zinchenko on the left must only play against weaker opponents.”
Zinchenko has started 22 games for Arsenal in 2022/23.
The post 'Not a great player': Arsenal ace labelled 'very weak' amid international struggles appeared first on HITC.
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