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Gary Neville believes Mikel Arteta has taken inspiration from Manchester City to solve Arsenal’s left-back ‘problem’.
Oleksandr Zinchenko has been the first-choice left-back for the Gunners over the last couple of seasons and started there in the 2-0 opening-day win over Wolves.
However, the Ukraine international has come in for criticism in recent months with his form taking a dip.
Arteta, instead, opted to start Jurrien Timber at left-back against Aston Villa on Saturday and the Dutchman rewarded his manager with a performance that saw him win three of his five contested duels while making two tackles, one recovery and 32 successful passes from 38 attempts.
Timber is, of course, still regaining full fitness after missing most of 2023/24 with an ACL injury. So, when he began to run out of steam, instead of Zinchenko, Arteta introduced new signing Riccardo Calafiori — who starred at Euro 2024 for Italy as a centre-back — to see out the match.
Arteta solves Arsenal left-back ‘problem’
Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium in London on August 17, 2024.
Neville has compared Arteta’s use of centre-backs on the left to that of Pep Guardiola fielding Josko Gvardiol at left-back to great effect for Manchester City.
“Some of the most successful transfer windows is where you keep stability in your squad and you add one or two that make it the final two pieces of the jigsaw. In the two games against Villa last season, left-back was a problem,” Neville told Sky Sports.
“We saw what City did, in the last 10 games of the season, Josko Gvardiol’s impact from left-back was immense. Not just from a defensive point of view, but an attacking one – his power, strength, height. Arteta has reacted to that.
“He knows he has Timber coming back but he has Calafiori as well. He’s a big boy, powerful, strong, can play in a…
Source link : https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/08/25/arsenal-left-back-problem-mikel-arteta-man-city-gary-neville/
Author : CJ
Publish date : 2024-08-25 15:04:05
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