Mikel Arteta lauds “perfectionist” Oleksandr Zinchenko
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on summer signing Oleksandr Zinchenko, saying he brings a ‘winning mentality’ to the club.
The versatile Ukrainian joined the Gunners earlier this month from Manchester City, whom Arteta previously worked for during his spell in Pep Guardiola’s back room team.
He spent six trophy-laden years at the Etihad and will now be looking to rub some of that silverware gold dust off at the Emirates following his £30m move.
The 25-year-old recently started in Arsenal’s 6-0 win over Sevilla on Saturday as the club ran rampant in the first half against the Andalusian outfit, before coming off with 10 minutes to go.
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Speaking about his latest signing, Arteta has waxed lyrical about the midfielder, saying his drive and mental fortitude will help carry the club forward and push them in their pursuit of a top-four Premier League finish.
Arteta told the club’s official website: “First of all, his mentality. He’s used to winning – winning is the only thing and winning in the right way.
“He’s a perfectionist and a really demanding boy, I know him so well, and after that he brings qualities that we didn’t have in the squad.
“He gives us a different option to play within the role in different spaces, and I’m really happy to have him.”
Gabriel Jesus is another who has been on fire since joining Arsenal earlier this summer, recently marking his Emirates debut by netting a timely hat-trick against Sevilla over the weekend — and Arteta has been impressed with the Brazilian’s capacity to acclimatise seamlessly to his new surroundings.
“You are hoping that that is going to happen but obviously a player has to adapt to a new city, to a new club, new team-mates and he’s done it in a really fast and natural way,” he said.
“You can see the way they look for him on the pitch, on and off the ball, and what he’s able to transmit as well on that pitch so I am really happy.”
