Paul Scholes criticizes Oleksandr Zinchenko’s positioning in Arsenal’s win over Nottingham Forest as ‘disrespectful’

Paul Scholes slammed Oleksandr Zinchenko’s positioning during Arsenal’s win against Nottingham Forest as ‘insulting’ in an Instagram post.

The Ukrainian was deployed at left-back in the 2-1 victory at the City Ground on Tuesday night, but regularly stepped into midfield when the Gunners were in possession.

The sight of Zinchenko operating in midfield was not unusual, as the 27-year-old often ventures forward when Arsenal have the ball, as do several of his counterparts across the Premier League.

Scholes, however, appeared to be unimpressed by the tactic.

‘A full-back coming into central midfield is an insult to a central midfield player,’ the former Manchester United midfielder wrote on Instagram during the game.

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‘I think he/she should be told to get the f*** back out there.’

Scholes’ former Phil Neville replied: ‘Us full-backs can play anywhere’.

A left-back by trade, Neville was occasionally deployed in central midfield during his days at United and regularly occupied the position during his days at Everton.

Zinchenko is regularly deployed in central midfield for Ukraine, having previously played as a winger early in his career.

And despite Scholes’ criticism, the Arsenal left-back went on to register an assist, setting up Gabriel Jesus’ opener midway through the second half.

Bukayo Saka doubled the Gunners’ lead, before Taiwo Awoniyi scored on his return from injury to set up a tense finale for the visitors.

But it proved to be too little, too late for Forest as Arsenal held out for a second consecutive Premier League win to temporarily close the gap to leaders Liverpool to two points.

Zinchenko was involved in a furious post-match row with teammate Ben White after the final whistle, with the pair seemingly berating each other about the defensive confusion that led to Awoniyi’s goal.

Arteta had to step in to calm his arguing players but insisted he had enjoyed their reaction.

He said: ‘I love it, they demand more from each other and they are not happy with the way they concede that and they are trying to resolve it.

‘It was a bit heated, but that means it is not enough playing the way we played, the result has to be bigger.

‘That’s pushing each other and being not happy conceding and I have to encourage that and promote it in the right way and a respectful way.

‘Sometimes after the game, it’s emotional and heated but I love that the players are pushing each other and demanding excellence.’