Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had the chance to experiment during Wednesday night’s Champions League clash with PSV Eindhoven.
With the Gunners already holding a dominant 7-1 lead from the first leg of the last-16 tie, the second leg was largely a formality.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, deployed in midfield, gave Arsenal an early lead just six minutes in, but PSV’s Ivan Perisic leveled the score in the 18th minute.
Declan Rice restored Arsenal’s lead in the 37th minute, only for Couhaib Driouech to equalize again for PSV in the 70th minute.
Arteta also handed starts to Raheem Sterling and youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly, the latter’s midfield appearance delighting many Arsenal supporters.
After the game, Zinchenko spoke about what amazed him most about playing in Arsenal’s midfield, something he also shared with teammates Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
Zinchenko amazed by Arsenal midfield workload
Though Zinchenko has experience playing in midfield for both club and country, he has mostly featured as a left-back since joining Arsenal. Only recently has he been given a chance to play centrally.
In an interview with TNT Sports, Zinchenko admitted he was taken aback by the sheer amount of running expected from Arsenal’s midfielders, particularly Rice and Odegaard, who often play every few days.
“It’s not an entirely new role — I’ve played there most of my life, including for the national team,” Zinchenko said. “But at Arsenal, at this level, the demands are different.”
“At half-time, I told Martin and Declan, ‘Unbelievable how much you guys are running every three days.’ Now I really see what it takes at this level.”
What’s next for Zinchenko at Arsenal?
There has been speculation for months that Zinchenko might leave Arsenal, having fallen down the pecking order at left-back behind Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Jakub Kiwior.
Reports suggest Zinchenko has “accepted” that pushing for more game time at left-back may no longer be realistic.
However, a potential shift to midfield could revive his Arsenal career. With both Thomas Partey and Jorginho out of contract this summer, Zinchenko might find an opportunity to extend his stay at the Emirates by competing for a midfield role.