Andy Townsend slams ‘flimsy’ Arsenal star ahead of Bayern Munich clash

Oleksandr Zinchenko may be the weak link for Arsenal on Tuesday (Picture: Getty)

Andy Townsend has called Oleksandr Zinchenko ‘flimsy, flaky and vulnerable’ ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.

The Gunners host the German champions at the Emirates on Tuesday as the quarter-finals get underway, with Harry Kane making his return to north London.

Arsenal have somewhat of an advantage for the first-leg encounter with Bayern Munich fans unable to attend the fixture after being slapped by a UEFA ban.

Speaking ahead of the clash, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta gave a brilliant response when asked if he’d spoken to Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso for tips.

Townsend, though, feels there is one weak link in the Arsenal team in the form of Ukrainian left-back Zinchenko, who Bayern Munich may look to target.

‘The only area for Arsenal, Zinchenko is a great footballer, [but] he is a little bit flimsy and flaky, and he can’t recover,’ Townsend told talkSPORT on Tuesday.

‘Kyle Walker, if he ever makes a mistake, he can recover. Zinchenko, if he gets caught, he is a bit vulnerable there.

Oleksandr Zinchenko is ‘flimsy’, according to Andy Townsend (Picture: Getty)

‘They have got Takehiro Tomiyasu now, they have [also] got Jakub Kiwior who has stepped in and has done really well.’

Zinchenko started Arsenal’s last match – Saturday’s 3-0 win over Brighton – but the good news for Arsenal fans is that Jakub Kiwior may take his spot in the XI.

Kiwior has been the regular starter at left-back since early February and is expected to replace Zinchenko after the Polish star was rested against Brighton.

Gary Neville believes Bayern Munich will pose a very stern test for Arsenal in the and feels the Gunners’ lack of European experience could be a major problem.

Owen Hargreaves, though, is leaning towards Arsenal while labelling Bayern Munich as ‘dangerous underdogs’ in the tie.

The Champions League is a welcome distraction for Bayern Munich, who have endured a miserable domestic campaign in Germany thus far.

Bayern Munich currently sit a whopping 16 points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and look set to miss out on the title.

Sporting director Max Eberl says Thomas Tuchel and his players should be ‘ashamed’ after their3-2 defeat against Heidenheim on Saturday.

‘We should all be a bit ashamed,’ he said. ‘This is not the Bayern Munich that I knew. A lot needs to be changed.’

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