‘Ricardo Calafiori is an actual defender not like Oleksandr Zinchenko’: Former Arsenal defender makes BRUTAL evaluation on Ukrainian – and even goals a dig at David Raya
Former Arsenal defender William Gallas has taken intention at a quantity totally different Gunners gamers forward of the anticipated arrival of Riccardo Calafiori.
The North London outfit look set to welcome the Italian defender as their first signing of the summer time after narrowly lacking out on the Premier League title in a closing day showdown final season.
The Gunners look like on the precipice of success beneath Mikel Arteta, who’s but to win one other trophy for the reason that 2020 FA Cup, though Gallas believes quite a few gamers should still be holding them again.
Mikel Arteta was inside touching distance of the title final season (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Former Arsenal defender takes intention
With Calafiori’s official announcement now seemingly a matter of when not if, Gallas welcomed the Italian’s arrival, describing how he can be a significant improve on Oleksandr Zinchenko.
“I feel Arsenal’s soccer has moved on from what Zinchenko affords them,” Gallas instructed Playing Zone.
“Soccer is a sport that continuously evolves, and it’s altering once more in the meanwhile by way of how the most effective groups attempt to defend.”
Zinchenko may quickly see his sport time restricted (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
He continued: “Over the previous few years, we’ve seen groups ask their left backs and proper backs to enter midfield and construct play from the again. We’ve seen again fours change into again threes with the ball – a defender’s function has modified lots, however now the main target appears to be on doing what they’re there to do: defending very properly and being sturdy.
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“There’s a pattern shifting in the direction of a way more stable again 4. There are lots of causes for that, however basically, it’s about being stronger than your opponent and limiting the variety of possibilities in your objective. Soccer is altering. We’re in a interval that was made for actual defenders.”
Gallas had a controversial spell on the Emirates throughout his taking part in profession (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Gallas then hinted that David Raya ought to nonetheless be questioned regardless of his unbelievable debut season on the Emirates.
“Pay attention, in the event you’re a goalkeeper and you may play behind a robust defence then you’ll be able to win a title,” the Frenchman defined.
“David Raya is taking part in with an awesome defence in entrance of him. That implies that most groups that play Arsenal can have just a few possibilities to attain in every match, so in these few conditions, you want your goalkeeper to be superb.”
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