Oleksandr Zinchenko Set to join The Gunners

Oleksandr Zinchenko after spending six years at Manchester City is set to sign for Arsenal. The Ukrainian is set to join his former assistant coach Mikel Arteta. Also, who is Prepping up a new team to compete for the new season. Arsenal who already have signed Matt Turner, Fabio Viera, Marquinhos and Gabriel Jesus. Zinchenko set to join Arsenal from Manchester City after £32m deal agreed.

However Ukrainian has won four Premier League titles with Manchester City but only made 15 league appearances last season. His injury proneness has kept him away from starting. Arsenal have already signed Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City this summer. The Gunners are set to pay £30m up front with £2m in add-ons. Also, while personal terms isn’t a problem. Zinchenko has spent just over six years at City after joining the club as a teenager from Russian side Ufa. The versatility of Zinchenko has prompt Arsenal the most, allowing them to go all in for the player.

Oleksandr Zinchenko Versatility as a Player

Sky Sports football journalist Sam Blitz analyses the versatility of the Ukrainian.
“Mikel Arteta has been looking at additions at left-back and central midfield in this summer transfer window. The Gunners wanted Ajax’s Lisandro Martinez. Who has experience in playing in both positions as well as centre half. However, now looks destined for Manchester United. Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans an option but the transfer is going nowhere in recent weeks.
“There is reason why the Arsenal manager needs support in that role. At left-back, Kieran Tierney has picked up long-term injuries in the last two seasons at crucial moments. While Nuno Tavares play as cover last summer, the young Portuguese full-back struggles in the big moments. Furthermore, ended up behind Cedric Soares and Granit Xhaka in the left-back pecking order come the end of the season.
“In midfield, Xhaka is a mainstay in Arteta’s team but there is little competition for his specific role. Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny and Albert Sambi Lokonga all compete for the same position at the base of Arsenal’s midfield. However, leaving Xhaka to a number 8 role.

As a Leftback or Midfielder

“Should he play in midfield, a role he undertakes regularly at international level, Zinchenko would compete with Xhaka at Arsenal – and a closer look at their respective heatmaps last season shows that the two play in the same area of the pitch, even though the Ukrainian played at left-back and the Arsenal man operated from midfield. “On the ball, Zinchenko’s passing statistics are superior to Xhaka’s – but this is because Guardiola’s City keep the ball and use it better than Arsenal.

Zinchenko and City defended a lot less than Arsenal last summer, but the Ukrainian international’s defensive stats still trump Xhaka’s. Zinchenko won more tackles, interceptions and challenges in the air than the Swiss midfielder – a reminder that the two players operate in roughly the same area of the pitch.”