Mikel Arteta must seriously consider making a major tactical change to one Arsenal player’s role against Manchester United on Sunday.
Arsenal will travel to Old Trafford on Sunday to take on Manchester United in what is a must-win fixture for the North London club.
The Gunners need to bring three points back with them from the North West in order to maintain their pace in the Premier League title race.
On the basis of form, Mikel Arteta’s side ought to be able to get the result they need against Manchester United. The Red Devils have been poor in recent weeks and suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat against Crystal Palace last time out.
Whilst Arsenal need to be wary of the threat that Manchester United pose, there are certainly weak points in Erik ten Hag’s team which Arteta must look to exploit.
The midfield battle will be key at Old Trafford. The Gunners ought to have enough quality in that part of the pitch to dominate their opponents, and Arteta must take full advantage of this superiority.
The Spanish coach needs to maximise his side’s presence in the middle of the park, and one way he can do so is by deploying Oleksandr Zinchenko in a midfield role.
Why Mikel Arteta should use Oleksandr Zinchenko in midfield for Arsenal v Man Utd
The Ukrainian has made this name as a left-back in the Premier League, but has plenty of midfield experience and still features centrally for his country. Even if he doesn’t start the game, or start the match in a midfield role, at some stage against Manchester United the £32 million former Manchester City man ought to be unleashed in the middle.
Operating in that part of the pitch would play to Zinchenko’s strengths. He is a brilliantly gifted technician, and an excellent, creative passer of the ball. His presence in midfield would afford Arsenal more control and would add craft and guile to their play.
Featuring in a midfield role would also offset some of the flaws in the 27-year-old’s game. Zinchenko has been described as a defensive “weakness” for Arsenal in the past by iconic former club captain Tony Adams. Any errors he makes in the middle of the park would be less likely to leave Arsenal too exposed than if he were playing at full-back.
The Arsenal left-back dilemma ahead of Manchester United clash
Of course, if Zinchenko were to be deployed in midfield, that would leave a problem for Arteta to address at left-back. Takehiro Tomiyasu is a doubt for this match as he missed Arsenal training in the week.
Whilst Jurrien Timber is once again fit, it is inconceivable that he will be handed his first start since August at Old Trafford.
As such, Jakub Kiwior ought to come into the team in that position. His physicality would add an extra layer of security to the Gunners’ rearguard, leaving them less vulnerable to counter-attacks, with the likes of Zinchenko seeking to build attacking moves in the middle.