The authoritative publication SkySports, analysing yesterday's match of the 21st round of the English championship between Arsenal and Crystal Palace (5:0), paid special attention to the Ukrainian defender Oleksandr Zinchenko, who in this meeting returned to the field after injury, playing all 90 minutes.
Alexander Zinchenko"Ball control is a vital part of Mikel Arteta's (Arsenal head coach, - ed.) game plan, and at the heart of that plan is Zinchenko's inverted role, and that was on full display in Arsenal's 5-0 win over Crystal Palace. He showed his importance to the Arsenal team, especially against teams that sit back.
The Ukraine player immediately became switched on in midfield, supporting Declan Rice and possessing the ball. With his constant desire to move the ball forward, he forced Arsenal to shine with a wide range of passes. Zinchenko found his teammates for passes time after time, creating all sorts of problems for the opposing defence.
The Ukrainian international's defensive work will always be in question, but like Jurgen Klopp's reliability with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Arteta knows what Zinchenko will bring.
The worry for Arteta will be the lack of an alternative to Zinchenko, who has had persistent injury problems since his move from Manchester City in the summer of 2022. Especially with Takehiro Tomiyasu currently in Japan's squad for the Asian Cup and Jurrien Timber suffering a complicated injury.
The lack of an alternative to Zinchenko may force Arsenal to be active in the January transfer window to try and ease the burden on Zinchenko. But if the Canaries can keep the Ukrainian fit and in the frame of mind with which he played against Palace, Arsenal's prospects look good," the publication wrote.
