Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko has now discussed the extra competition for game time he will face this season with Riccardo Calafiori set to join the club.
Oleksandr Zinchenko has already slipped down the pecking order at Arsenal.
By the end of last season, it could be argued that Mikel Arteta preferred both Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior at left-back to the Ukrainian.
Arteta was said to have lost patience with Zinchenko, who for all of his technical quality on the ball is prone to defensive lapses.
Things are only going to be tougher for the 27-year-old this season, too. Having missed almost all of last season with an ACL injury, Jurrien Timber is now back to full fitness and will be eager to make up for lost time.
The Dutchman represents another threat to Zinchenko’s chances of getting regular football for the Gunners. As does Riccardo Calafiori.
Arsenal are close to signing Calafiori, who is expected to feature most prominently at left-back for the North London club.
Oleksandr Zinchenko welcomes challenge of Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori at Arsenal
Despite knowing that both Timber and Calafiori are coming for his place in the team, Zinchenko is positive about the challenge that this represents.
Speaking to Hayters TV, the former Manchester City man said: “Well, wherever the manager is going to use me in the club, I will be happy to give my best and to do my all. Of course, it will be amazing competition… That’s what you need, you know, in the team who wants to achieve a lot of things, to win a lot of titles. You need to have this competition.”
Zinchenko aiming to keep promise to Arsenal fans
Zinchenko knows that his form dipped last season. In a post on Instagram at the end of the campaign, he noted: “Personally I completely understand that it wasn’t my best season so far and I promise first of all to all fans and doubters that I’ll be back much stronger.”
Zinchenko is clearly eager to get back to his best. If he can do that, then he has the quality to establish himself as Arsenal’s first choice left-back once again.
With the increased competition now around him, though, the 66-cap Ukraine international will realise that he has almost no margin for error available to him. If his standards slip, his chances to play will surely disappear just as fast.
He must also accept that he is likely to begin the campaign in a back up role, and must show that he has the fight to win his place in the regular starting XI back.
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