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Mikel Arteta has found the next Oleksandr Zinchenko to complete Arsenal's dream defence

Oleksandr Zinchenko and Mikel Arteta
-Credit: (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)


Oleksandr Zinchenko barely played during the final month of last season and could soon be replaced at Arsenal entirely as Mikel Arteta revamps the defence.

Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba were the bedrock of the Premier League's best defence in front of David Raya. But on the left, Jakub Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Zinchenko joined them during various parts of the season.

Kiwior is under contract until 2028, and Tomiyasu signed a new two-year extension in March, but Zinchenko has just two years remaining on his deal and talks over new terms are not known to be taking place yet. The Ukraine international could, therefore, join left-backs Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares in leaving the club this summer.

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Therefore, it is no surprise that Arsenal are considering signing Bradley Locko, according to TBR. The reports come a week after Ajax teenager Jorrel Hato ruled out leaving the Dutch club after being linked to the Emirates.

Attention now seemingly turns to Locko after a breakthrough season for the French left-back. In his first whole campaign at Brest after signing from Reims, the 22-year-old was named in the team of the year for the first time. The club will also play in the Champions League next season after finishing third in Ligue 1 behind only Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco.

Locko was almost ever-present during the campaign, starting all their first 33 league matches before missing the final game. From left-back, the France under-21 international contributed three assists.

While not in Didier Deschamps' squad for the European Championship, Locko could be at the Olympic Games in Paris after featuring in France's pre-Olympic training camp in late March. He started a friendly for the under-23s team against the United States after debuting for the under-21s late last year.