Zinchenko sale has left Pep playing mix and match

WHEN Oleksandr Zinchenko left Manchester City for Arsenal last summer, few predicted he would have such a big say in the title race.

- Simon Collings

The left-back has transformed the way Arsenal play, dictating the tempo of games and allowing Mikel Arteta’s side to control matches.

Rarely has a full-back been so influential and, as the Ukrainian prepares to face his former club in tomorrow’s huge top-of-the-table clash, City must surely regret letting him leave.

Arsenal paid £32 million for Zinchenko, which is about half what Chelsea paid Brighton for Marc Cucurella and looks a brilliant piece of business for the Gunners.

At City, meanwhile, Pep Guardiola has selection issues at leftback and the decision to sell Zinchenko could come back to haunt him.

Joao Cancelo was allowed to join Bayern Munich on loan last month following a bust-up with Guardiola and his exit has left City short in that area of the pitch.

Even before his departure, Cancelo was out of form and Guardiola has been forced to try multiple methods to find a solution at left-back as his side struggle for consistency.