Following Tuesday night’s Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest, tensions escalated between Arsenal teammates Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko, leading to a physical separation after a heated argument over the goal conceded.
Despite securing a two-goal advantage through second-half strikes from Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka, Arsenal couldn’t maintain a clean sheet, with Taiwo Awoniyi scoring an 88th-minute goal on his return from injury.
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The Gunners’ otherwise solid performance ended on a frustrating note, leaving them in second place on the Premier League table.
After the final whistle, a confrontation unfolded between Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko as they exited the pitch. The exchange became so intense that set-piece coach Nicolas Jover had to intervene and pull them apart.
Mikel Arteta approached Zinchenko, who appeared visibly upset by the incident. According to Sky Sports, the post-match celebrations were cut short due to the argument between the pair regarding the conceded goal.
Zinchenko’s positioning in the build-up to Awoniyi’s goal drew White’s displeasure, and this disagreement spilled over at full-time.
Despite the tensions, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his approval, stating that he “loved” the exchange.
White has every right to be angry, look at the difference between Zinchenko and the other 3
Costing Arsenal the clean sheet yet again https://t.co/VLHvGxIwqg pic.twitter.com/MnhSvnNKLX
— ???????????????????? ???? (@FPLPattern) January 30, 2024
When asked about the incident, Arteta said: “That’s pushing each other and not being happy with conceding nothing. I have to encourage that and promote it in the right way and a respectful game.
“Sometimes after the game it is too emotional and too heated. But, I love that the players are pushing each other and demanding excellence.”
He added: “I love it. They are demanding more from each other. They are not happy with the way they conceded and they are just trying to resolve it.
“It got a bit heated. But that means that it’s enough. Playing the way we played the result has to be bigger and the clean sheet has to be there.”
Paul Scholes, meanwhile, made his feelings very clear on Zinchenko’s positioning in an Instagram story post.
He wrote: “A full-back coming in to central midfield is an insult to a central midfield player….I think he/she should be told to get the f*** back out there. …night.”
