Boost for Arteta: “Outstanding” Arsenal player will now be fit to play vs Southampton

Boost for Arteta: “Outstanding” Arsenal player will now be fit to play vs Southampton

A recent report from the Evening Standard stated that Oleksandr Zinchenko, who plays as a left-back for Arsenal, will be in a condition to play against Southampton on Friday evening.

Oleksandr Zinchenko will be fit to face Southampton

Arsenal was without a few important players in their match against West Ham United on Sunday. 

William Saliba, their center-back, was unable to play due to a back problem, which meant that Rob Holding had to step in as his replacement. Unfortunately, Holding’s performance did not impress journalist Raj Chohan, who suggested that he is not good enough to play for a team with title aspirations and even compared him to former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren.

 Another absence was Zinchenko, the team’s regular left-back, who was unable to play due to a groin issue, which was a significant setback for manager Mikel Arteta.

Fortunately, there is good news for Arsenal as the Evening Standard has reported that their defender, who earns £120k-per-week, will be fit to play against Southampton on Friday night. 

He has fully recovered from the injury he sustained during the match against Liverpool. On the other hand, there is no positive update for Saliba, who continues to be unavailable. 

However, it is reported that he is recovering well, and there is a possibility of him making a comeback in a few weeks.

Assuming the Ukrainian defender is fit to start, it would be wise for Arteta to include him in the starting line-up. This is especially true given that the alternative left-back option, Kieran Tierney, has not had many opportunities to play this season and has largely been used as a substitute.

 The Ukrainian has become an important player for Arsenal and has an average match rating of 7.0 on Sofascore, which is the second-highest among defenders in the squad.

In the last 12 months, the 26-year-old defender has received high praise from the media and has consistently averaged more tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes than Tierney, demonstrating his superior defensive abilities. 

Additionally, he has contributed more assists, which underscores his offensive capabilities. While Tierney is a reliable backup, Zinchenko has played a crucial role in elevating Arsenal’s performance this season. It is excellent news that he will be available for their upcoming crucial match on Friday.

Boost for Arteta: “Outstanding” Arsenal player will now be fit to play vs Southampton