“He’s the BIGGEST problem in this Arsenal team. He will cause them to lose the PL title to Liverpool or City”- Chelsea Legend John Terry names the Arsenal man who will cost them the Premier League title this season and make them go trophyless again like last season
‘He’s the problem’ – Chelsea legend names the Arsenal player who could cost them the Premier League title
The Premier League, but Micky Gray believes ‘problematic’ Oleksandr Zinchenko could deny them their chances.
Mikel Arteta’s men currently top the table and have a one-point lead over Liverpool, having won 12 of their 18 games this season.
The Gunners and Reds drew 1-1 on December 23, with Mohamed Salah equalizing after Gabriel’s goal.
Arsenal left-back Zinchenko had problems with the striker all game, but poor defensive play allowed him to score.
But former Arsenal defender John Terry told talkSPORT that he believes Zinchenko could have an impact on the Gunners’ chances of winning their first title in 20 years.
“To be honest, and I didn’t just see him in that game, which was very important, I think Arsenal could have cost the Premier League,” he told The Sunday Session.
“It’s such a big problem. I am not criticizing him and saying he is a bad player because he is not, he has played for Manchester City, he has been there, he has done it.
“He’s certainly done it at Arsenal and sometimes it’s quite difficult to criticize him when you think about what he, his family and everything else has gone through in the last year and a half. But judging by the football and what I have seen, I think he is a problem for Arsenal.”
He added: “If we talk about communication, I think the communication between the left-back and the center-back is key. I don’t think the communication between Zinchenko and his center backs is such that everyone can see it.
“Sometimes it’s hard to see it on TV, but when you’re at the games, you see it, and all it takes is a little look over your right shoulder to look at your left center back, and I don’t think he does that very well.
“I think he has problems in one-on-one situations because I think he lacks pace. When Salah came back on his left foot, which I think everyone knew he would do because it’s his preferred foot, you don’t take your foot out.
“You don’t put your right foot out to try and make contact with the ball, you defend first and foremost and you do that by opening up your shoulder and tracking the man. Sometimes if he’s a bit faster than you he can still get away, but as a defender you have to move your body.
“It’s a dodge if you stick your right foot out to try to take the ball from Salah, if you see any defender, not only the left, but if you see someone sticking their foot out, it’s a dodge that they refuse to defend.”
Zinchenko first started as a central midfielder before being converted to left-back by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, although he plays in midfield for Ukraine.
However, Terry believes he needs to do more as a defender if he wants to keep his place in Arsenal’s starting eleven: “He hardly plays in that position for his country, does he? He always plays in midfield and I’m sure he wants to play there.
“The coaches have changed the style of play because of him and they play this inverted wing-back. In some games, like the Liverpool game, you can’t do that because you have to have four or five backs, you have to be solid and be a defender first of all.
“So he has to come in at certain times in the games and be a defender and if he can’t do that week in and week out, I think that will be Arsenal’s problem and I think it will leave them without winning the Premier League.”
