After defeating PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the first leg of their Round of 16 match, Arsenal had all but guaranteed themselves a place in the Champions League quarterfinals. However, Mikel Arteta was given the opportunity to use the underappreciated power of rotation.
Mikel Merino remained in the lone center-forward position; Raheem Sterling, who was not feeling well, was positioned on the right side of the attack, while Kieran Tierney, who is a left-back by trade, played as a makeshift winger on the other flank from the Englishman.
Although Oleskandr Zinchenko was also placed in an unexpected situation, was it truly so strange for the adaptable Ukrainian? He was used in the No. 8 position, which is normally manned by captain Martin Odegaard, as Arsenal drew 2-2, and it caught the attention of supporters.
In the summer of 2022, Zinehcnko, a four-time Premier League champion with Manchester City, relocated to north London with the intention of turning around his employers’ fortunes, but thus far, that has not been the case. However, what was his performance like in the middle of the park?
Consideration of Odegaard’s role in Zinchenko’s Engine Room Shift Arteta and Co.
As mentioned, Arteta and his group reached out to the outskirts of Manchester City. When Gabriel Jesus showed there, Zinchenko was also taken in as a way to break their more than two-decade Premier League losing streak.
With the rise of Myles Lewis-Skelly and the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori, minutes are usually few at the Emirates Stadium; nonetheless, the 28-year-old’s versatility may make him a desirable possibility for his management in the future.
Zinchenko mastered his job and responsibilities at home before being substituted in the 79th minute by Odegaard, who is considered by many to be among the Premier League’s greatest midfielders, with the match still in play.
His objective is the clear talking point. Despite spending the whole 2016–17 season on loan at PSV, he scored the first goal after six minutes and refused to celebrate. His attacking space and ability to wrap the ball around his left boot was an eye-opener for the home crowd.
Naturally, though, his exhibition was far more substantial. Zinchenko only touched the ball 27 times, but PSV had more control since they were frantically trying to find a way back in. Despite this, he was constantly covering space and chasing runners.
He made 17 of his 24 passes, one of which Sofascore would have been crucial, during his 27 touches. He appeared to be the difference in a match that might worry Odegaard, who has recently been criticised for his own play.
Paul Scholes, a former Manchester United midfielder who is now a pundit, recently asserted: “Martin Odegaard is an incredible football player; I enjoy watching him; he’s technically gifted.” However, he must eventually show up and win these matches for his team.
After their 2-2 tie, the Shakhtar Donetsk academy graduate talked about whether he likes playing in the centre. Since I’ve played there my entire life, especially with the national team, I wouldn’t say it’s a totally new position for me.
However, it’s clear that the demands are different at Arsenal at this level. “It’s unbelievable, now I realise how much you guys run every three days,” I told Martin and Declan. Thus, this is the level and the demand.
"I said to Martin and Declan, 'unbelievable, now I realise how much you guys run!'" 🥵
Oleksandr Zinchenko enjoys his stint in the centre of Arsenal's midfield this evening 🤣
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK | 🎙 @msmith850 pic.twitter.com/jwU4RtI6RK
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 12, 2025
Fans Wax Poetic About Zinchenko’s 79-Minute Display
‘I’m not surprised one bit, been saying he should play there for ages’
In midfield, is Zinchenko balling? I’ve been saying for ages that he ought to play there, so I’m not at all shocked.
One fan commented, “Zinchenko was the Xhaka replacement all this time,” while another remarked, “I am loving Zinchenko in this role,” implying that he would be the ideal substitute for now-Bayer Leverkusen enforcer Granit Xhaka.
Statistics about Oleksandr Zinchenko’s Career
Club/Nation
Games
Objectives
Helps
Red/Yellow Cards
City of Manchester
128
2.
Twelve
6/1
The Arsenal
85
3.
4.
10/0
Ukraine
70
10.
6.
11/0
FC Ufa
33
2.
4.
3/0
PSV Eindhoven
17
0
4.
0/0
Zinchenko’s skill was always obvious because he played in the midfield at the international level, but a third fan asked why Arteta hasn’t employed him more often. “Apparently, everyone and his dog knew Zinchenko could assist our midfield bar Arteta.”
“Zinchenko’s technical ability is top 3 in this squad,” said another fan, praising the Ukraine international’s technicality. Another came to the conclusion that it would be humorous if Zinchenko had been the solution to our number 8 quest for around three years.
