‘Completely different’: Oxford boss Karl Robinson claims Arsenal are totally transformed when £32m star plays

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Oxford United boss Karl Robinson says Arsenal are a completely different team when Oleksandr Zinchenko is on the pitch.

Robinson’s side kept the Gunners at 0-0 for an hour of their FA Cup third round clash on Monday night, but then Mikel Arteta made a double substitution.

On came Zinchenko and Granit Xhaka and within minutes, the tie was out of sight and Arsenal were into the hat for round four.

They will play Manchester City there, the club from whom they bought Zinchenko for £32 million in the summer – as well as the injured Gabriel Jesus of course.

Robinson a big fan of Zinchenko

A report by the Telegraph was handed inside access to Oxford’s preparations for the game and states that Robinson and his staff correctly predicted Zinchenko would not start the game.

Kieran Tierney got the nod at left-back, but plays the role in a completely different way to Zinchenko and Robinson said: “If Zinchenko plays he is far more comfortable coming inside and they are a completely different team.

“But obviously regardless of who plays they are good. [Zinchenko] is such a good player. They are very good, they are also off-the-cuff.”

Zinchenko prefers coming inside to link the play that way, while Tierney is more conventional, running wider and preferring overlaps and crosses.

Zinchenko has usurped Tierney as first choice this season from the looks of it, although it is good for top clubs to have quality options battling for every role.

Both men also give Mikel Arteta variety in terms of how they can try and break teams down, depending on the demands of the game.

Tierney was perhaps rusty on Monday night, which is understandable given the lack of football he has had this season, while Zinchenko has been playing well and regularly.

Jesus may be the summer signing from Manchester City who has grabbed the headlines, but Zinchenko has been so important too.

Next up for Arsenal is the north London derby, where they will be looking to complete the double over their bitter rivals having beaten them 3-1 earlier this season.