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Soccer

Former Arsenal defender thinks club have 'moved on' from Oleksandr Zinchenko

Former Arsenal defender thinks club have 'moved on' from Oleksandr ZinchenkoCraig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images
The Ukrainian has been linked with the exit door.

William Gallas has said that Arsenal have “moved on” from Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The arrival of Riccardo Calafiori has come with suggestions that the Ukrainian left-sided defender is no longer going to be first choice at the Emirates.

The style of defender that clubs now require has seen some full-backs move to central midfield, and with clubs using three central defenders instead.

Speaking to  Gambling Zone , former Arsenal defender Gallas thinks that Zinchenko could be a casualty of the tactical innovation.

He said: “Yeah, I think Arsenal’s football has moved on from what Zinchenko offers them. Football is a game that constantly evolves, and it is changing again at the moment in terms of how the best teams try and defend.

“Over the last few years, we’ve seen teams ask their left backs and right backs to go into midfield and build play from the back. We’ve seen back fours become back threes with the ball – a defender's role has changed a lot, but now the focus seems to be on doing what they are there to do: defending very well and being strong.

“There is a trend moving towards a much more solid back four. There are a lot of reasons for that, but fundamentally, it’s about being stronger than your opponent and limiting the number of chances on your goal.

“Football is changing. We’re in a period that was made for real defenders.”

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