Zinchenko says Arsenal's showing was 'not the best'
‘We go again’: Oleksandr Zinchenko describes Arsenal’s showing at Liverpool as ‘not the best day at the office’… but vows to continue title fight after he was left in TEARS on the bench due to being beaten for the Reds’ equaliser
- Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko was at fault for Liverpool’s equaliser at the death
- The defender was filmed in tears on the bench after being taken off shortly after
- Gunners are six points clear of Man City with the title expected to go to the wire
Oleksandr Zinchenko has broken his silence on social media after his mistake allowed Liverpool to grab a late equaliser against Arsenal on Sunday.
The Ukrainian was nutmegged by Trent Alexander-Arnold before the Liverpool full-back crossed for Roberto Firmino to head beyond the diving Aaron Ramsdale.
Withdrawn shortly afterwards for Kieran Tierney, Zinchenko was filmed in a state of anguish on the bench, with TalkSport reporting he was in tears due to his role in Arsenal throwing away a two-goal lead.
‘Not the best day at the office but we go again,’ he wrote. ‘Thanks for support. Together until the very end.’
His comments come amid criticism over his defending, with Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane taking aim at his perceived casual attempts at defending.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (left) was nutmegged leading to Liverpool’s late equaliser on Sunday
The defender was left in tears on the bench afterwards but Arsenal held on for a draw
‘You think about the modern full-back and the obsession is how good they are going forward. I think they have lacked that real pride in defending,’ Keane said.
‘Zinchenko had to get down low. It’s all far too easy – especially if you’re going to win titles.’
Carragher echoed Keane’s sentiments, saying: ‘I can’t get Zinchenko out of my head. The league title’s on the line, you’ve got to be more aggressive. That can’t happen.
‘There’s got to be more intensity from Zinchenko. It’s almost like he’s training and doesn’t want the ball to go through his legs.’
Arsenal held on for a point in added time under a barrage of Liverpool pressure, with Aaron Ramsdale to thank in large part for his remarkable saves from Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate.
After the game, manager Mikel Arteta said his side lost control of proceedings, allowing Liverpool back in.
‘Wow – very intense game,’ Arteta said. ‘The game was under control but after that we concede a really sloppy goal and the game shifted momentum.
‘We started well in the first few minutes [of the second half] but then lost control. It became a very transitional game, very chaotic.
Pundit Roy Keane said Zinchenko needed to defend with more desire in the face of pressure
Jamie Carragher added he could not get the defender’s efforts at stopping Trent Alexander-Arnold out of his head
Ibrahima Konate spurned a presentable chance at the death – with Aaron Ramsdale saving well
‘Liverpool could score three or four. It is true we could have scored two or three so maybe at the end the score is fair.
‘I haven’t seen anyone do it [dominate] in this ground this season. They beat every big team here, they played Real Madrid and could have been four up after 20 minutes.
‘They are going to have moments. You need to deal with them and we did. Our goalkeeper had a big part in that.
‘We could taken three points. We should do that [play like the first half] for another 15 minutes and then the game would have taken a very different trajectory.
‘We didn’t. We have to take the point.’
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