Former Arsenal player William Gallas harshly criticized Oleksandr Zinchenko’s defensive skills, calling them a particular weakness in his game.
Arsenal’s faltering Premier League campaign hit another bump in the road on Friday as they were held to a 3-3 draw against bottom-of-the-table Southampton. The result marked the third consecutive game in which the Gunners have dropped points, leaving their title aspirations in tatters.
However, it was not only the team’s lacklustre display that garnered attention, but also the individual performances of certain players, namely Oleksandr Zinchenko. The versatile Ukrainian, who has featured primarily as a left-back this season, was heavily criticized for his defending by former Arsenal defender William Gallas.
Gallas’ critique was unrelenting, as he lambasted Zinchenko for his poor display against Southampton, and singled out his vulnerability in one-on-one situations as a particular weakness in his game. Zinchenko was also called out for his role in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal on April 9, where he was beaten by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Gallas, who played for both Arsenal and Manchester City during his career, went on to suggest that Zinchenko may struggle in the upcoming game against his former club, citing his lack of experience in managing high-pressure situations.
“Defending is not his strength. One versus one is often a problem,” Gallas remarked. “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.”
Indeed, Wednesday’s game at the Etihad will be a significant challenge for Arsenal, and for Zinchenko in particular.
It will mark just the second time the Ukrainian has faced his former club since his move to the Emirates last summer, and the pressure will be on for him to prove his worth in a potentially title-defining clash.