Oleksandr Zinchenko reveals why Arsenal don’t need another defender before the transfer deadline

Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko may have just revealed why Arsenal are not set to sign another defender this summer by claiming that academy talent Reuell Walters has ‘impressed’ him in training with the senior side.

The Gunners have seen Kieran Tierney leave this summer, while Rob Holding is expected to leave the club in the final days of the transfer window. Meanwhile, new addition Jurrien Timber picked up an anterior cruciate ligament injury on the opening day of the Premier League season and is set to spend much of the campaign on the sidelines.

It has led to plenty of speculation that Mikel Arteta’s side may not have enough defensively to mount a challenge on all four fronts, added to by the fact that both Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu are expected to miss a month of the campaign thanks to international commitments (The African Cup of Nations and Asian Cup respectively).

However, the Gunners could already have the answer, in the form of Reuell Walters. Though the youngster is yet to make a senior appearance for the club, he has been impressing in training and a senior debut cannot be too far away, with Zinchenko tipping him as they best talent at the club.

‘I like so much centre-back Reuell,’ Zinchenko told Rio Ferdinand on his Youtube Channel.

‘I think the qualities he has, he is aggressive. I swear to God, one time he pushed Gabriel Jesus in a shoulder-to-shoulder.

‘It is not easy to push Gabriel because he is very strong, and he was confident on the ball afterwards, he kept the ball well and passed. Wow. He impresses me I think the most.’

The 18-year-old is a centre-back by trade, but can also fill in at right-back when called upon, which could allow Takehiro Tomiyasu to shift to left-back on a more frequent basis.

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