Claudius So on this point of Zinchenko giving away the ball way too much - I remember looking at the data around early January. He gives the ball up far less than a lot of our player - Saka was particularly high, for example - and retains it reasonably given a) amount of possession and b) level of risk in his passing
Saka is an attacking player. Their numbers are bound to be lower. Zinchenko playing in defence/midfield/wherever he decides, should have much higher numbers, especially since the start of this season where he doesn't play as many incisive passes as he used to and instead holds onto the ball for ages before laying it off.
Don't get me wrong, I loved Zinchenko last season for what he brought to the team, but this year our balance looks much better when he isn't on the field. We defend better, pass quicker and create more chances. Feels like we've outgrown him, as @lorddulaarsenal likes to say.
