Gallas identifies ‘problem’ with Arsenal star who has let Arteta down at a crucial time
William Gallas thinks Oleksandr Zinchenko has put in his worst performances of the season when Arsenal needed him the most.
Mikel Arteta signed the Ukraine international from Premier League rivals Manchester City in the summer transfer window for around £30m.
Zinchenko has largely been a positive for Arsenal this season as they lead the race for the Premier League title with the Gunners in the middle of a brilliant campaign.
Arsenal are five points clear of Man City – who they play in a crucial match at the Etihad Stadium tonight – but Pep Guardiola’s men have two games in hand on their rivals.
Zinchenko has made a few mistakes in recent matches with the ones in the their draws against Liverpool and Southampton highlighted the most.
Gallas reckons Zinchenko has been “found wanting” for Arsenal during the closing stages of the campaign with the Gunners’ defending in recent weeks described as “terrible”.
Former Arsenal defender Gallas told The Sun: “The defence was terrible. Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus were below par and Thomas Partey wasn’t at his best.
“Zinchenko was sleeping for Southampton’s third goal. It was not the first time he has been found wanting. Defending is not his strength. One versus one is often a problem.”
Gallas added: “Zinchenko is one of Arsenal’s most experienced players and, in these types of games, you need that experience — you want to see him managing the game.
“But we haven’t seen that. He hasn’t performed very well in the last few matches. It will be difficult at City, it’ll be emotional.”
Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon called out Zinchenko for being at fault for Southampton’s third goal in their recent 3-3 draw against Arsenal but Ukraine legend Andriy Shevchenko has highlighted why the Gunners signed him in the first place.
Shevchenko told CBS Sports: “He’s so light on the ball, very good technique and he was not afraid to take responsibility when he was playing even when he first started. You could see immediately that he had a different, natural quality to anybody else: technique, movement and confidence.
“I remember him coming to the national team, he was a boy of 16. He looked like a baby!
“He has developed and grown so much, the captain of the Ukrainian national team, one of the best left-backs this season. He deserves all of this for his passion for football, his discipline, his desire and ambition.”
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