Featured Image Credit: Alamy & Highbury Squad YouTube channel
Topics: Arsenal, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Manchester City, Premier League, Football
Joe Adams
Topics: Arsenal, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Manchester City, Premier League, Football
Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell has jumped to the defence of Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has come under fire in recent weeks.
Zinchenko signed for Arsenal from Manchester City in the summer for a fee of £30 million and has helped transform them into title contenders.
He has played a key role in Arsenal's ascent to the top of the Premier League table, as the Gunners eye their first domestic title in almost two decades.
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But standing in their way are reigning champions Manchester City, with the title race likely to come right down to the wire.
Three consecutive draws against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton has seen Arsenal lose valuable ground, with a title-defining clash up next at the Etihad on Wednesday.
It will be the second time Zinchenko has faced his old side, with City getting the better of Arsenal last time out at the Emirates, winning 3-1.
However, the Ukranian has come under criticism after he formed a huddle with the rest of the Arsenal players when they were 2-0 down to Southampton.
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While he also came under scrutiny for Liverpool's equalising goal at Anfield, after Trent Alexander-Arnold nutmegged the defender before picking out Roberto Firmino to score.
But former England striker Campbell has since slammed critics and insisted Arsenal have Zinchenko to thank for where they are in the table.
Campbell has been left dumbfounded by calls for Zinchenko to be dropped after recent performances and has defended the player's decision to form a huddle against Southampton
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Speaking to The Highbury Squad YouTube channel, Campbell said: “Let me tell you why he huddled,” said Campbell. “He had to shake the boys up. It’s not a huddle of congratulations. The team are asleep and we are 2-0 down at home.
“I can’t believe some people [criticising Zinchenko]. If he wouldn’t have said something, as one of the experienced guys and left it, who says we come back in that game?! After that one, we started to play in a more progressive manner.
“The fact of the matter we are in this position is because of the way we play with our left-back joining our midfield to dominate and suffocate the opposition.
"You fans, sometimes, are so quick to throw players away. Why do you reckon we are top? He’s one of the main reasons we are at the top of the league.”