Arsenal injury was a ‘blessing in disguise’ as Arteta ‘accidentally’ hits the jackpot

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Journalist Jordan Davies believes that one Arsenal problem has now been turned into a positive by Mikel Arteta.

Mikel Arteta has found a way to make the best out of Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko’s latest injury.

In the Ukrainian’s absence, Jakub Kiwior has been called upon to fill-in on the flank of the defence. Kiwior has impressed to such an extent in this spell that it has now been questioned if Zinchenko should even come straight back into the regular starting XI.

The reason that the Polish defender has been able to flourish in recent weeks is that he has not been asked to replicate Zinchenko’s inverted interpretation of the role, which he has struggled with in the past.

Instead, right-back Ben White has been tasked with drifting infield to bolster Arsenal’s presence in the middle of the park. The former Brighton and Hove Albion man has excelled with this extra responsibility, and is somehow able to balance both his work in the midfield zone with his duty to support Bukayo Saka on the flank. Arteta has been told that former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa is the man to thank for White’s tactical versatility, as he used to have the player training as a midfielder in his time at Elland Road.

Does Jakub Kiwior offer Arsenal an Oleksandr Zinchenko upgrade for now?

Jordan Davies believes that this system, with Kiwior on the left and White cutting in from the right, could be here to stay at Arsenal, in the short-term at least. Speaking on The Arsenal Beat podcast, the reporter said, “I think he [Arteta] always knew that Ben White could do what he’s doing right now…I think he has accidentally realised that Ben White can do pretty much anything.”

“I think he’s always known that Zinchenko has been limited defensively, and he’s not great in one-on-ones…It could be a blessing in disguise, whereby he sticks with Kiwior for the next couple of games even after Zinchenko comes back into the squad…and then just wait for Timber, and when Timber comes back you kind of have a choice to make, but it’s a really good choice for Arteta.”

Zinchenko has been called out as a defensive liability for Arsenal before. He is prone to lapses in concentration and struggles in one-on-one scenarios. Kiwior is a far more natural and physical defensive presence. If White can replicate the former Manchester City man’s creative influence in the team, then there is a strong argument for keeping Zinchenko in a back-up role.

Jurrien Timber could well provide a solution that ticks all the boxes. He is defensively strong, but has the capacity to get forward to great effect, and can invert comfortably as well. Once he has recovered from his long-term injury, the Dutchman may well provide the final piece to Arteta’s defensive puzzle.