Gary Neville has blasted Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko as a �liability� for his performance in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool this evening. In a match...
Gary Neville has blasted Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko as a �liability� for his performance in the 1-1 draw against Liverpool this evening.
In a match that was marred by VAR controversy, Arsenal took the lead in the seventh minute as Gabriel got on the end of an inch-perfect Martin Odegaard delivery.
However, their 1-0 advantage would be erased 22 minutes later as Mohamed Salah cut inside of Oleksandr Zinchenko far too easily and smacked an unstoppable strike into the roof of the net.
The 27-year-old, who arrived from Manchester City for �32 million in the summer of 2022, had a performance to forget up against Salah all evening.
Zinchenko couldn�t live with the Egyptian�s explosive pace and power, prompting criticism from those in attendance.
Gary Neville blasts Oleksandr Zinchenko as �weak� and a �liability� against Liverpool
As a former full-back himself � and a pretty good one at that � Gary Neville knows what is required when watching someone play in that position.
Unfortunately, Zinchenko didn�t get into the former Manchester United man�s good books for his performance against Liverpool.
Throughout the match, he was criticised for his lacklustre defending and wastefulness in possession.
For Salah�s goal, his legs turned to jelly and this prompted a reaction from Neville on Sky Sports.
He said: �Absolutely sensational from Salah. Zinchenko against Salah is a mismatch. That is such weak defending.�
What was more alarming for Zinchenko, however, this wasn�t the only moment in the match when he looked out of his depth.
In the 54th minute, he tried to dribble out of his half and got tackled by Salah. He was very fortunate that Declan Rice was alert to the loose ball otherwise Arsenal would have been in trouble with Neville calling for him to be substituted.
�If you�re on the bench, you�re ready to hook Zinchenko. He�s a liability.�
Zinchenko�s poor run of form continues
Unfortunately, the 1-1 draw against Liverpool hasn�t been the only time where the 58-cap international has let his team down recently.
After getting caught out defensively in the 1-0 defeat against Aston Villa, he was dubbed a �complete weakness� by former Gunners centre-back Tony Adams.
Meanwhile, in the 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend, he showed lapses in concentration on several occasions and often played Arsenal into danger.
For all of his undoubted quality, it is clear that Zinchenko is going through a rough patch and perhaps he needs a few games on the bench to take him out of the limelight.
While a rest could do him the world of good, it would also potentially hand Jakub Kiwior the chance to impress.
