Oleksandr Zinchenko might now make his return from injury when Arsenal take on Brentford this Saturday with ‘hope’ growing at Emirates Stadium for the left-back.
The Gunners will meet the Bees in north London in a 17:30 kick-off striving to maintain their superb run of results. Arsenal are the most in-form Premier League team as the only one to win their last seven games. Mikel Arteta’s men have also scored 31 goals to three conceded.
But Arteta has been without Zinchenko for Arsenal’s past four wins after the 27-year-old last appeared against Liverpool. The Ukraine hero started in the Gunners’ 3-1 win over their title rival on February 4. But Arteta replaced him at the break having aggravated his calf problem.
Arsenal ‘hope’ to have Zinchenko back from injury vs Brentford
Zinchenko had initially missed Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat at Fulham on New Year’s Eve with the calf injury. Yet he returned to top-flight action following the club’s winter break and also assisted Gabriel Jesus at Nottingham Forest. But his calf issue reappeared in their win over Liverpool.
Now, though, football.london claims that there is ‘hope’ at Emirates Stadium that Zinchenko may pass a fitness test to return from his injury when Arsenal host Brentford. But Arteta will be without David Raya, with the on-loan goalkeeper ineligible to play against his parent club.
Arteta will be delighted to have his No1 left-back fit once again
Zinchenko returning from his injury against Brentford would, no doubt, delight Arteta as he is Arsenal’s first choice at left-back. The 58-cap Ukraine defender has started in 17 of his 21 Premier League appearances so far this term from a potential 21 fixtures outside of injuries.
Arteta was also without the former Manchester City star, who Scott Minto calls ‘sensational’, at the start of the season due to a calf injury, as well. Zinchenko missed the club’s entire pre-season and their opening match. Two of his cameos followed in August to build up minutes.
Natural centre-half Jakub Kiwior has also stood in for Zinchenko at left-back during his most recent injury lay-off at Arsenal. But a consistent run in the role has given Kiwior the time to adapt to the position, with Alan Smith saying he has ‘looked better’ the more he has played.