Arsenal fans did one thing to show their frustration with £32m star v Brighton

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Arsenal fans grew frustrated with Oleksandr Zinchenko during the Gunners’ 2-0 win against Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday afternoon.

Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko is a player with a lot of obvious qualities. He has a very specific tactical function in Mikel Arteta’s side, and is given plenty of license to roam from his starting position. 

The Ukrainian regularly drifts into the middle of the park, where he can become an auxiliary midfielder of sorts and take up a playmaking role as the Gunners seek to build up attacks.

Since his £32 million arrival from Manchester City in the summer of 2022, Zinchenko has largely impressed at the Emirates Stadium. His introduction to the team allowed Arteta to shake up his tactical approach, and the 27-year-old’s creativity makes him a real weapon in the final third.

However, there are drawbacks to having Zinchenko ostensibly be a part of the defensive line. He has weaknesses in his game, which have been highlighted on numerous previous occasions. He is not the biggest, fastest, or strongest of defenders and can be exposed in one-on-one situations. 

These flaws can largely be offset by the presence of Gabriel Magalhaes covering for his teammate from his centre-back position, and Gabriel Martinelli’s endless willingness to track back from left-wing to support the 58-cap Ukraine international.

However, Zinchenko’s habit of clumsily giving the ball away when in his own defensive third is a bigger issue. All too often, the player has these lapses in concentration and plays his team into trouble.

Arsenal fans and Mikel Arteta will all have their patience tested by Oleksandr Zinchenko

On numerous occasions against Brighton, Zinchenko was guilty of giving the ball away in dangerous areas. This eventually led to the crowd getting on his back and voicing their displeasure. 

As noted by Sky Sports journalist Nick Wright at the Emirates Stadium, there were “groans from the home fans as Zinchenko loses possession in his own half – and not for the first time lately.”

These mistakes will irk Arteta just as much as they do the Arsenal supporters. It would be somewhat overoptimistic to expect Zinchenko to cut them out of his game entirely at the stage in his career, though.

Whenever Arteta picks Zinchenko to play, the Spanish coach is gambling that the positive aspects of what the player brings will outweigh the negative consequences. Eventually, though, the manager will surely want a less risky option in that position who can still provide an attacking threat. Perhaps, had Jurrien Timber not sustained such a serious injury so early on this season, Arteta would already be less reliant on Zinchenko.