Arsenal’s “monster” who didn’t play against Luton was the biggest winner

Arsenal have been removed from their scintillating greatest in opposition to Luton City on Wednesday night time, however that does not actually matter, as, for a number of hours not less than, the north Londoners are again atop the Premier League desk.

Mikel Arteta possible anticipated a barely disjointed show from his crew after he made sweeping adjustments to the lineup that drew away to Manchester Metropolis over the weekend, and whereas some fringe gamers made a powerful case for his or her future involvement, a number of actually did not.

If something, the most important winner from the night time’s motion was a participant who spent the entire match on the bench, watching Oleksandr Zinchenko make his case for him.

Oleksandr Zinchenko’s efficiency vs Luton City

Now, there’s typically lots of hyperbole concerned in discussions about Zinchenko, be that folks decrying him as a defensive catastrophe or others celebrating him because the best-inverted full-back round, however final night time, neither of these issues was true.

The Ukrainian worldwide began his first recreation for the membership for the reason that conflict in opposition to Liverpool two months in the past attributable to each harm issues and the spectacular type of his replacements, so to say there was lots of strain on him can be honest.

Sadly, the followers weren’t handled to one in every of his greatest performances. As an alternative, they noticed him play some good passes right here and there, lose the ball extra typically than he ought to’ve, and commit a number of defensive blunders, which fortunately amounted to nothing.

It would sound harsh, nevertheless it’s an opinion shared by soccer.london’s chief Arsenal author, Kaya Kaynak, who awarded the previous Manchester Metropolis ace a 6/10 on the night time.

The journalist wrote that he was accountable for ‘a few dangerous giveaways’ and that it was a efficiency that typified the ‘basic threat and reward that the Ukrainian brings.’

Kaynak’s abstract is backed up by the 27-year-old’s statistics from the night time. In his 74 minutes of motion, he gained all 5 of his duels however misplaced possession 11 occasions, took 84 touches however maintained a passing accuracy of simply 84%, and made one key go however misplaced three of his 4 lengthy balls.

In all, it wasn’t a dreadful efficiency from the gifted full-back, nevertheless it demonstrated fairly clearly why his inclusion in future lineups can be a threat, and sadly for him, Arsenal aren’t ready to take dangers in the mean time.

The most important winner from Zinchenko’s show

So, whereas Zinchenko struggled to make a stable case for his additional involvement within the title race, Jakub Kiwior was fortunately resting on the bench, protected within the data that when the whistle blows in opposition to Brighton and Hove Albion at 17:30 on Saturday afternoon, he’ll virtually actually be within the beginning lineup as soon as once more.

The Polish worldwide was the person who got here in to exchange the Radomyshl-born full-back when he went off injured in opposition to Liverpool in February, and whereas most followers and pundits alike initially considered him as non permanent cowl, he has since made the left-back place his personal.

Within the eight video games he has began since, he has helped the crew maintain 5 clear sheets, together with in opposition to Metropolis on the Etihad on Sunday. The 6 foot 2 “monster”, as described by information analyst Ben Mattinson, may not have the identical offensive talents as the person he changed – though with three assists and one purpose, he is confirmed his attacking value this yr – he’s comfortably the higher defender.

This defensive solidity should not be a shock, although, as, equally to Ben White, the 24-year-old had spent most of his profession as a centre-back earlier than Arteta moved him out broad.

Finally, Arsenal are in a fortunate place to decide on between the 2 defenders, however in relation to the must-win video games, Kiwior now seems like a shoo-in to begin, so the £58k-per-week star must be the most important winner from final night time’s match.