26 January 2023 , 13:00
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Oleksandr Zinchenko is already adored at Arsenal but his displays for the Premier League leaders haven't convinced everyone.
While former Premier League ace Gabriel Agbonlahor has admitted he rates the Ukrainian highly, he harbours serious concerns over Zinchenko's defensive abilities - something that is going to be put under serious pressure on Friday night when the Gunners make the trip to the 25-year-old's old stomping ground to face Manchester City in the FA Cup fourth round.
It promises to be a thrilling match-up, with these two teams currently battling it out for the Premier League title, with Mikel Arteta's men in red-hot form, and buoyed by their 3-2 win over Manchester United last weekend.
While they may now be title rivals, the harmonious and respectful relationship between the two clubs has seen plenty of business conducted between the pair in the recent past.
Last summer, Arteta, a former assistant coach at the Etihad to Pep Guardiola, oversaw the arrivals of both Zinchenko and forward Gabriel Jesus from Manchester to the Emirates for a combined fee of around £75million.
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Brazil striker Jesus impressed in the early part of the season, although he will miss the return to his former stomping ground due to injury.
As for Zinchenko, the former Shakhtar Donetsk ace has found himself dictating the pace in which Arsenal attack and control proceedings all over the pitch from left-back, becoming a key on-field lieutenant for Arteta.
But Agbonlahor still isn't sold on his defensive awareness. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Football on behalf of Grosvenor Casinos, the ex-Aston Villa striker was asked if there is a particular area in this Arsenal side City can look to exploit both in the FA Cup clash and the race for the league title.
Oleksandr Zinchenko has arguably been Arsenal's stand-out performer this season (Stuart MacFarlane/Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Is Agbonlahor fair in his assessment of Zinchenko's performances? Comment below
"The only thing that I would look at in that team for me is, defensively Zinchenko, he explained. "I rate him highly, but I feel if you can get Mahrez one-on-one with Zinchenko, if Kyle Walker can take Martinelli through the middle, maybe, or you've got a chance of getting Mahrez one v one.
"That's the weakness and that's the only weakness for me is the left back. It wouldn’t surprise me if he done what he did against Liverpool, do you play Tomiyasu left back like they did when they beat Liverpool earlier in the season? If I was Arteta I would be doing that."
Agbonlahor went on to boldly suggest Takehiro Tomiyasu, although nominally a right-back, should get the nod in the starting lineup at the Etihad.
"I wouldn't start Zinchenko, I would start Tomiyasu, a right footer on the left because that's exactly what he's done to Mo Salah, and it worked.
"So that's the weakness and I think it wouldn't surprise me if that's tactical change from Arteta."