Why Mykhailo Mudryk would be a great fit at Arsenal

Arsenal look set to add to their Ukrainian flair.

Arsenal and their transfer business look set to continue during the January transfer window, having been rumored to be even closer to a deal for a player who has been compared with Neymar of PSG.

Arsenal is off to a hot start in the Premier League, and that is no doubt down to some incredible business they completed over the summer. The summer saw Arsenal gain the additions of Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Viera, keeping William Saliba, and the list can go on. It appears business is not going to stop there, with the Gunners looking to make a move in January to further strengthen their squad.

Mykhailo Mudryk of Shakhtar Donetsk appears to be edging closer to a move to North London. He even recently stated his admiration for the Gunners, saying “I think every guy dreams of playing in the Premier League… but Arsenal is a very good team, very good coach…” and even went on to say he “can’t say no” if he was offered the chance to make the move to Arsenal. Let’s just say he hasn’t been shy when it comes to the North London club.

Here are some of the reasons I believe he could be a good fit:

The Right Price: Initially, Shakhtar Donetsk set a price tag that was well out of Arsenal’s comfort zone, with his fee in the area of around £90 million. However, recent developments say that the Ukrainian star’s price tag has now dropped, in the region of £40 million, but Shakhtar would also want to have add on’s in the deal. While this still may feel steep, this is the cost of taking a risk on a player with huge potential and a lot of room to grow.

Added (quality) depth:

With Mykhailo Mudryk’s stats this season, it’s easy to understand why Arsenal wants this deal and is trying to wrap it up as soon as possible. The 21-year-old has 10 goals and 8 assists in all competitions in the league, with 3 goals and 2 assists coming in the Champions League. Add a player like this into a winger rotation of Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Marquihnos, and Reiss Nelson adds even more depth in a position they can already feel lucky with.

That said, the depth in that position should also give Mudryk a grace period to adapt to his new league, something that always must be taken into account with a young player moving to the Premier League from abroad. If given proper time, that should only help him in his development, leading to better on-field performances and success for Arsenal.

Age profile: 

This purchase would continue with the idea of trying to build with young, emerging talent, that can play in a demanding system such as Arteta’s. It hasn’t been at the same pace, but this rebuild has hints of Guardiola’s first big rebuild with Manchester City, when Pep had to freshen up the squad with some youth, securing players that fit his system and idea of football for years to come. At just 21 years of age, Mudryk certainly appears to be one for the future,

Bringing in a player at such a young age to the Premier League certainly represents a risk that the player will have trouble adapting to his new environment, the pace of play, and physicality of the new league along with Arsenal and their setup, but if he does find his feet, it would be hard to argue that he adds a lot of quality to a side that is already sitting atop the Premier League table.

Ability: 

Mykhailo Mudryk plays with obvious flair, but his results clearly back this up. He has pace in attack, 1v1 ability, and an unpredictable aura that makes him a nightmare for defenders. On top of this, he has good vision and can create for his teammates. All of this in a team with Saka, Jesus, Martinelli, and even Ødegaard at times coming forward will mean even more goals.

There are obvious areas he can improve, which is to be expected from a player of his age, but it is clear he has a solid base to work from. So, the question is, can he show his quality in England, or will he end up becoming another Nicolas Pepe-type transfer for Arsenal?

A Friendly face: Mudryk will already have an international teammate waiting in the wings in North London in Oleksandr Zinchenko, which should help him settle on the personal side of the game. Having somebody from your country that speaks your language, and understands what you’re going through, especially with everything the Ukrainian people have had to endure over the past 10 months, will surely be comforting.

So, will Arsenal get the deal over the line?