Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko was at fault for another goal being conceded against Chelsea on Tuesday night.
The Ukrainian international left Noni Madueke unmarked to score the Blues’ consolation in the 3-1 win, and supporters on Twitter have begun to debate whether his defensive deficiencies outweigh his ability on the ball:
He is a defensive liability! He must be considered for a LCM role in some games
— Godlwayo's Finest (@NqabaYomuzi) May 2, 2023
he is our trent tbh
great on the ball but poor defensively— Dhillu (@dhillusinghjatt) May 2, 2023
Said the same thing in the champions league next season he’s not good enough to play left back he could cost us dearly
— Zakthegooner🇩🇿 (@Zakt0006) May 3, 2023
He will get exposed like he has this season, but the consequences will be more dear.
— O Cigano 𓂀 (@trafalgar_wdl) May 2, 2023
Gives away a lot of sloppy passes and cannot identify threat at times
— Mohit (@MohitB98) May 3, 2023
He’s just not good enough defensively. Must keep tierney
— Afcab90 (@afcab90) May 2, 2023
Good player. Good profile. Not elite
— Juan (@kuuuuzmo) May 2, 2023
Zinchenko’s inverted fullback position does give him unique responsibilities both in and out of possession. He can roam freely into central midfield areas, which can cause problems for opposition teams who are unsure how to mark him.
The fact that he is often the free man allows the Gunners to dominate the ball, and it is important that he can deliver a pass due to the time he gets in advanced positions.
However, the fact that Zinchenko is roaming about the pitch means he is regularly out of position when possession is lost. On the whole, he does track back pretty well but there are occasions where he is caught out. It is a risk-and-reward strategy that manager Mikel Arteta is unlikely to change it.
