Why Zinchenko, and not Jesus, has been Arsenal's signing of the season

 

If Arsenal are to lift the Premier League title come May, if not sooner, than they'll look back to their 3-2 win over Bournemouth as a key moment. 2-0 down heading into the final half hour, Arsenal rallied to secure a vital victory to maintain their five-point cushion at the top of the Premier League as goals from Thomas Partey, Ben White and Reiss Nelson earned a crucial three points. 

 

Ultimately, Arsenal deserved all the spoils. They mustered 31 shots and 80.1% possession on home turf and as the Emirates bounced when Nelson's late, late effort hit the back of the net, there was renewed belief that the Gunners could really go on to secure the Premier League title. Crucially is the mentality of a team that feels they can win any game no matter the time left on the clock, reminiscent of Manchester United during their era of dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson. 

 

The new additions have been vital in that regard. Obviously Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko were going to improve Arsenal in key areas of the pitch, but what has proven essential is the winners' mindset that'll aid the north London side in the final games of the campaign. Both players have four Premier League winners' medals between them and with the knowhow to get the job done in the business end of the campaign, the two former Manchester City men have proven far more important than many gave them credit for when they joined last summer. 

 

Jesus' return to fitness will be a timely boost for the Gunners, the striker having been absent since the World Cup, yet while every Arsenal fan knew they needed another frontman following the respective exits of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, strengthening at left-back was less of a priority, at least by comparison to adding a new striker. Nevertheless, Arsenal pushed hard for Zinchenko, despite having Kieran Tierney on the books, and with each passing week it is easy to see why. 

 

It's not just the mental toughness of Zinchenko that has improved Arsenal, but what he brings to the side when in possession, and the Gunners are dominant, too. Tierney's best quality is his tenacity and the willingnes to get forward to help stretch defences, providing another outlet in the final third. Yet while Zinchenko offers the same quality, it's the element of control that is afforded to Arsenal when the Ukraine star is playing.

 

Despite missing a chunk of the campaign due to injury, Zinchenko ranks fourth for successful final third passes (406) in the Premier League this season, this despite the Ukrainian operating at left-back. Of those 406, 59 came in the weekend's 3-2 win over Bournemouth, a record in a 2022/23 Premier League match, with Zinchenko able to help overload the left flank and move into midfield as Arsenal seek to dominate games. 

 

 

An additional reason why Zinchenko has proven such a hit with both the fanbase and in the squad itself is that he fits the possession approach that Mikel Arteta demands. Indeed, of those to have made more than five Premier League appearances for the Gunners, Zinchenko is making more passes per 90 (73) than any Arsenal player. That ranks 20th in the Premier League as a whole. 

 

Fans are used to seeing centre-backs or ball-playing central midfielders top this list, and yet Zinchenko, a left-back, has been a revelation in possession for Arsenal, a quality that stems from his time at City. This is another key reason why they are topping the table at present. Previously, players without the right mentality would have routinely sacrificed possession when chasing a lead or holding onto an advantage late in game, yet Arsenal are able to maintain the pressure on the opposition backline largely because Zinchenko is able to pick the right pass at the right time. 

 

This is just as vital as when Arsenal are winding down the clock in order to secure all the spoils. Yet this is what is to be expected of Zinchenko, a player who can seamlessly operate at both left-back and in midfield. The 26-year-old is more than willing to get on the ball for the benefit of the team, noted in that an average of 82.9 touches per game is the sixth most of active Premier League players to have made 10 or more appearances this season. 

 

As such, Arsenal are effectively playing with 12 men when Zinchenko is operating to his highest standards such is his influence in two key areas of the pitch. While Jesus was perhaps the number one target for the Gunners last summer given their need to add another frontman, they have been able to muddle through the campaign during the Brazilian's spell on the sidelines, with Eddie Nketiah and, up until injury, Leandro Trossard proving able deputies. 

 

However, without Zinchenko, Arsenal didn't look their usual dominant self and while the results may not have dipped, the performances certainly did. Indeed, there is the argument to be made that Zinchenko, and not Jesus, has proven to be Arsenal's most important signing and if the Gunners do go all the way this season, the impact of the Ukraine international cannot be overstated.

Why Zinchenko, and not Jesus, has been Arsenal's signing of the season