Micky Gray believes Oleksandr Zinchenko is now a ‘problem’ who could ‘cost’ Arsenal their chance to win the 2023/24 Premier League title after his tough time at Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah gave the 27-year-old a nightmare at Anfield on Saturday as Arsenal held on for a 1-1 draw. Liverpool started slowly and fell behind through Gabriel Magalhaes’ (4’) early header. But Salah (29’) soon began to run rings around Zinchenko before the winger replied.
Zinchenko struggled to stay with Salah and almost let the 31-year-old in to score in the 14th minute. Instead of keeping close to the Egyptian as Gabriel challenged Cody Gakpo to win a cross from Wataru Endo, he drifted inside to leave the Liverpool star unchallenged to shoot.
Oleksandr Zinchenko was a ‘liability’ for Arsenal against Liverpool
Luckily for Zinchenko, Salah failed to force David Raya into making a save with the first-time volley drifting just wide. But the attacker ultimately drew Liverpool level after cutting inside of Zinchenko with ease and blazing his attempt into the top corner before Raya would react.
Salah regularly left Zinchenko chasing shadows and the Arsenal ace even played himself into trouble at times at Liverpool, too. The Ukraine international was regularly too relaxed for his own good at Anfield. Gary Neville even called Zinchenko a ‘liability’ for Arsenal at Liverpool.
Micky Gray believes Oleksandr Zinchenko is now a ‘big problem’
Former full-back Gray believes Zinchenko may even now end up costing Arsenal the chance to win the Premier League title. The 58-cap left-back is concerning Gray with his inferior form of late. Gray particularly points to his ‘lack of pace’ seeing him struggle in one-vs-ones.
“I’ve got to be honest with you – and I’ve seen him not just [in] this game and it was a huge game – I think he might cost Arsenal the Premier League,” Gray has told talkSPORT. “That’s how big of a problem it is.
“That’s not me criticising him saying he’s a terrible player because he’s not. He’s played for Manchester City, been there [and] done it before.
“He’s certainly done it at Arsenal and it’s quite hard to criticise him at times when you think over the last year-and-a-half what him and, I suppose, his family and everything have been through. But judging on football and what I’ve seen, I think he’s a problem for Arsenal.”
Gray further cites Zinchenko’s on-field relationship with Gabriel as another factor behind his disappointing display as Arsenal drew with Liverpool. He feels the Ukraine hero and Brazilian do not communicate as effectively as the pair should in an ‘absolutely key’ part of the game.
So, Gray fears Zinchenko’s problems can end up costing Arsenal the chance to lift the 23/24 Premier League title. Mikel Arteta’s men sit second in the standings with a two-point margin to table-toppers Liverpool. But the Reds have played an extra game than the Gunners so far.
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