“He’s the bad stone in this Arsenal team, he has become a liability and if Arteta is not careful, he will lose the PL battle because of this player”- Arsenal Legend. Thierry Henry addresses the Arsenal star who appears to be the ‘problem’ and suffered a lot during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Luton Town last night.
Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Luton saw most players from the North London side exhibiting a sense of ease on the pitch. However, despite the dominant performance, Arsenal legend Thierry Henry observed a particular player who seemed to struggle against a Luton team facing the threat of relegation.
During the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, Henry noted instances where Oleksandr Zinchenko, making his first appearance since February, encountered difficulties against Andros Townsend of Luton. Despite Gabriel Magalhaes providing cover for Zinchenko, the Ukrainian international appeared rusty, prompting concerns about his form and fitness.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Henry acknowledged Luton’s commendable effort while highlighting Townsend’s ability to trouble Zinchenko on the pitch. Although Zinchenko has recently recovered from a calf injury, his performance against the 18th-placed Luton fell below expectations, raising questions about his readiness for upcoming challenges.
In light of Zinchenko’s subpar display, it is likely that Jakub Kiwior, who has excelled in Zinchenko’s absence, will retain his starting position for the crucial Champions League clash against Bayern Munich. While acknowledging Zinchenko’s capabilities, facing Townsend may not have adequately prepared him for the caliber of opponents he would encounter in a high-stakes Champions League quarter-final.