£32m Arsenal player needs a chance in midfield, it’s an obvious fix for Mikel Arteta

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Amid the struggles Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have suffered creatively of late, one solution may be moving Oleksandr Zinchenko into midfield. 

Arsenal sold Granit Xhaka to Bayer Leverkusen for £21m this summer, and the number eight position hasn’t been settled since.

It would seem that Arteta envisions Declan Rice in the role long-term, a player who is proving to be so complete.

But with Thomas Partey once again missing due to injury, and Jorginho still often lacking athleticism, Rice is needed at the number six.

Kai Havertz has often been tried in the position, but ultimately hasn’t succeeded and many Arsenal fans are now desperate for Mikel Arteta to try the German as a striker.

And given all of these scenarios, it seems the perfect time for Arteta to hand Zinchenko a chance in his Arsenal midfield. 

Zinchenko primarily was an attacking midfielder before he arrived in England, and it was only Pep Guardiola’s genius that saw him move backwards.

The Ukrainian remains one of the best inverted full-backs in the game, but is now struggling to defend in a traditional sense.

And given Takehiro Tomiaysu is faring well in his place, it’s time to try Zinchenko as an eight.

Arteta should give Zinchenko a chance in midfield when Arsenal face Sevilla

Arsenal severely lacked creativity against Newcastle on Saturday, and it shouldn’t be a surprise with Zinchenko and Martin Odegaard out of the side.

The duo are two of Arsenal’s most technically clean players, and their influence was sorely missed.

Without the two in the team, Arsenal are much more robust, but the balance isn’t currently working.

Therefore if Arteta experimented with Zinchenko playing as an eight ahead of Tomiyasu and Rice on Arsenal’s left, he could mix that defensive stability with added creativity.

Arsenal have built a squad with a ton of talent, and Arteta has so many options at his disposal.

But the current XIs that are taking the field aren’t justifying just how well this squad has been built.

It’s only minor changes, but Arteta would be well advised to give £32m Zinchenko the freedom to express himself for Arsenal.

And looking at other changes for Wednesday, Arsenal’s boss would also be well advised to reinstate another star from last season.