Arsenal must finally land a new Zinchenko

Are Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Premier League over? Well, but their defeat to Manchester City on Sunday felt like a fatal blow.

Mikel Arteta’s side have worked hard to stay at the top of the Premier League. They have been present in this campaign but everything can end up crying.

A few weeks ago, the Gunners were being talked about as potential four-time winners. A domestic treble was on the cards, as was the Champions League trophy.

Well, both sides of the international break have convinced themselves. They have won just once in their last six games. They may still be top of the league, but that lead will be revoked if Pep Guardiola’s men beat Burnley in midweek.

It felt like the clash with City was a pivotal moment and while the overall performance was better than last week against Bournemouth, it was still not surprising. Maybe the blame lies at the feet of Kai Havertz?

Why Havertz was to blame for Arsenal’s defeat at Man City

On 16 minutes, Rayan Cherki scored a great opening goal for City. He took the ball, danced his way past a few Arsenal players and scored in some fashion.

After just two minutes, the Gunners hit back. The difference in the quality of each goal could not be greater. While Cherki’s strike was one of the best you’ll see in the Premier League this season, Havertz’s equalizer was one of the strangest.

The German player was in the lead to beat the City goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma and it was the Italian who was left with egg on his face. Havertz closed in and the ball flew back into the net from point blank range.

It was a pivotal moment in the game and pivotal in Havertz’s career. He spent much of last year injured and was given a rare chance to start ahead of Viktor Gyokeres in attack.

The £65m signing brought his team mates to the fore. We all know he can do that. His holding game was better than anything Gyokeres has given Arsenal since his arrival last summer.

However, the difference in finish between the two was noticeable. Havertz missed the big opportunities outlined by Opta. One day, he could have had a hat-trick, he could have won everything but his team the title.

It was the second half where the former Chelsea man missed two chances. The first came from Arsenal winning the ball after a turnover and moving forward at pace. Martin Odegaard scored the ball for Germany, although it was too much, but still, Havertz should have scored. Instead, he was rejected by Donnarumma.

Perhaps the biggest opportunity came with just seconds left on the clock. Leandro Trossard turned in an inch-perfect ball from the right that landed on Havertz’s head about eight yards from goal. Raining on his grace, he went to the other side. It was i chance, i a chance to put Arsenal back in position to win the title.

Arteta threw himself down in disbelief. For once, Arsenal created many chances but failed to stop them.

That said, if they’re looking for an upgrade this summer, Havertz isn’t the only one who should be looking over his shoulder.

The £30m Arsenal star should leave ahead of Kai Havertz

The increased level of chance creation on Sunday was not surprising, considering that both Eberechi Eze and Odegaard started.

Due to injuries, it was the fourth time the two started together all season. He wonders what would have happened this year if both of them had been seen more often.

It was Eze who started on the left with Odegaard in the middle. However, the team captain’s actions have divided opinions.

In many ways, the Norwegians showed what Arsenal had been missing for large parts of the campaign. Against City, he was Arsenal’s best player in many key metrics.

That significant amount of chance creation is certainly something Arteta’s side lack. It was Odegaard who should have had the assist when Havertz missed that one in the second 45 minutes.

What is important is that the captain also led the way with the media. It seems that when a brilliant midfielder is on the sideline, the team’s press improves. Odegaard barks orders and they are often followed. Well, unless you’re Gabriel Martinelli in preparation for the Manchester City winner.

However, for all the good that Odegaard has to offer, there are two key stats that are very important to a player in his position; goals and help.

While the aforementioned Cherki was alive in the run-in, dancing a lively jig through Arsenal’s defense en route to a fourth goal in his last three games, Arteta’s captain may have watched on in awe.

The shiny toes, the fleet footwork, the ferocity with which he carries out his actions are all that have been missed from Odegaard in recent years.

The truth of the matter is that Arsenal need more goals and they are not getting that from the former Real Madrid man.

It now feels like a long time since the attacking midfielder had his Cherki-like season back in 2022/23. No Premier League midfielder has scored more than his tally of 15 in that campaign.

Since then, however, there has been a shocking decline in Odegaard’s output. Last season he only conceded three goals in 30 games. This season, amid numerous injuries, the 27-year-old has scored just once.

You only need to look at Cherki to see what Arsenal lack in that area of ​​the pitch. Eze can offer in his second season but regardless, the north Londoners need to find an upgrade.

Arteta showed no mercy towards the players who beat him to the team. There are many examples. See Emile Smith Rowe, in Aaron Ramsdale. A recent example involves Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Like Odegaard, the full-back was a major floor developer when he arrived at the club. Arteta created Odegaard and Zinchenko for his team, two players who showed great technical security with the ball.

However, it feels like we have reached the end of the road with the team captain. Like Zinchenko, he has reached the ceiling at Arsenal. The team has reached a point where they need better quality in that position.

Once an important part of the team, a player that Arteta could rely on, they ended up eliminating Ukraine after a number of injuries. However it is unlikely that Odegaard will move on, Arsenal must do so now.

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