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Arsenal: Charles Watts addresses post-match fitness concern over Oleksandr Zinchenko

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Image for Arsenal: Charles Watts addresses post-match fitness concern over Oleksandr Zinchenko

Journalist Charles Watts has revealed that Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko was ‘not moving well’ after the north London derby.

In their last Premier League outing, the Gunners tasted sweet victory in the Premier League thanks to an emphatic win over their local rivals.

Indeed, goals from Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus and Granit Xhaka handed Arsenal a 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, and Zinchenko played 73 minutes in the game at left-back.

However, it seemed as though he was ‘struggling to walk’ after the game – although Watts has eased any concerns over a major fitness issue, saying it was probably just cramp as opposed to an injury.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the journalist explained: “We saw Zinchenko walk past – I say walk – he was even struggling to walk, and I’m not saying that was an injury or anything, it might have just been he was really cramping up.

“He had both his legs sort of covered in… I don’t even know what they were they were, they were almost these sort of tights, basically, that I’m pretty sure were to keep the muscles protected, keep them warm or something like that. But he was very much struggling to walk, he was not moving well.

“I don’t think he was injured – he didn’t look injured when he came off, because he was substituted in the second half and he came off fine and he sat on the bench, but it looked like maybe he cramped up a little bit after the game. I mean, he hadn’t played for a while, so no surprise if he was struggling a little bit after the match.”

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A calf injury prevented Zinchenko from playing in the club’s previous game in their 3-0 win away at Brentford, while he also missed two games earlier in the season due to knee problems (via Transfermarkt).

With that in mind, it would be no shock if Zinchenko was to be suffering from a little bit of cramp after the game, and it does sound as though that is more likely the case as opposed to anything more serious – particularly if the derby was a more intense workout.

This will come as a relief to Arsenal fans, as the Ukrainian has impressed so far for the Gunners. Indeed, in six matches for his new side across all competitions, the 25-year-old has won five of those games.

Such form has fired the north London outfit to the top of the Premier League table, so there will be much hope that he can remain fit and healthy for the time being.

Who should start at left-back for Arsenal?

Oleksandr Zinchenko

Oleksandr Zinchenko

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Kieran Tierney

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