Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko was spotted looking devastated and in tears on the bench after being substituted during the Gunners' 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. The Ukraine international was criticised for his role in the Reds' late equaliser after Trent Alexander-Arnold breezed past him to set up Roberto Firmino's headed goal.
Zinchenko has been a revelation for the Gunners since his arrival from Manchester City last summer. The 25-year-old has been influential in helping Arsenal compete against his former side for the Premier League title this season, but after the draw at Anfield, City now find themselves as favourites once again.
Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus had given Mikel Arteta's side a 2-0 lead in the opening half an hour before Mohammed Salah grabbed a goal just before half-time. Zinchenko was beaten far too easily by Alexander-Arnold, who lofted the ball over Aaron Ramsdale towards the back post for Firmino to head home and snatch a draw against the Premier League leaders.
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The Ukrainian defender was hooked off the pitch by Arteta in the 88th minute, being replaced by Kieran Tierney just moments after he was at fault for Liverpool's equaliser. According to talkSPORT, Zinchenko's tears on the Arsenal bench stemmed from the fact that the Ukrainian international felt responsible for throwing the game away for his side at such a crucial stage of the title race run-in.
The former City ace came in for some serious criticism come full-time, as Jamie Carragher laid into Zinchenko for the way he failed to deal with Alexander-Arnold in the build-up to Firmino's goal. "I can't get Zinchenko out of my head," Carragher claimed.
"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," the Liverpool icon added.
Carragher's fellow Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane echoed a similar sentiment, as he said: "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.
"Zinchenko had to get down low. It’s all far too easy - especially if you’re going to win titles."
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