Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, sung the praises of Arsenal after their match yesterday and especially midfielder, Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Zinchenko didn’t have his very best game in an Arsenal shirt as he was partly responsible for the goal which Antony scored in the first 45 minutes of the game.
However, Ten Hag thinks that Zinchenko has qualities in his game that his United team can learn from, noting how Zinchenko appears in the midfield area to provide overloads and extra bodies for the Gunners.
“We can do some things better of course. Zinchenko, for instance, he gives them over numbering in the midfield that we can learn of. Also keep more composed on the ball, don’t give the ball easily away,” Ten Hag said post game to the BBC.
Zinchenko has been a revelation since moving to Arsenal but there were elements of his defensive game which need to be improved. Indeed, it was something Paul Merson picked up on before the game, insisting Zinchenko wouldn’t have fancied facing Antony in the first place.
Our View: Zinchenko Improves Arsenal Despite Defensive Frailties
He might have been left wanting for the opening goal but there is no doubting Zinchenko has improved the squad at Arsenal. In fact, he’s improved the first XI considerably.
Zinchenko has class as we’ve seen in his Manchester City days, while his performances with Ukraine have also been good for the Arsenal man as well.
Should Zinchenko be able to sustain the level he’s shown so far at Arsenal then there is a real chance the Gunners make the top four or even better. Along with the other new signings, Zinchenko has made this Arsenal squad a squad to be reckoned with, despite the loss at Old Trafford.