Arsenal's forward depth is fragile to say the least, with just a few injuries able to curtail the whole team and a potential top four push this season. The left seems relatively covered, with Gabriel Martinelli, Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira all able to play in that role, while the same can be said of the number ten position, with the latter two as well as Martin Odegaard more than capable of filling in there.
It's rather the right-side of the forward line that has become a problem, with Bukayo Saka currently the only first-team option in that position. That's occurred after club-record signing Nicolas Pepe was allowed to leave on loan to OGC Nice for the current season, while another replacement wasn't brought in before the end of the window.
On that decision, Mikel Arteta said: "We decided for every party it was the best decision to allow him to go. He needs to play minutes, he needs to play football. He was really adamant to do that and we decided that it would be best for everybody to do it."
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Plenty of options were linked for the flank though, from Pedro Neto to Moussa Diaby, with reports claiming they were after a "mystery winger". However, another name also appeared, being that of Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, who has impressed and at just 21-years-old fits the transfer profile of the club.
Rumours surrounding a £30million offer were circling, however the Shakhtar director Carlo Nicolini told Di Marzio that they want beyond that figure. “We’ve refused offers of even 35 million euros. We value him much more."
It comes after another director and former Croatian football Darijo Srna compared the 21-year-old to some huge talent, claiming via HITC: "For me, Mudryk is the best player in Europe in this position after [Kylian] Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. After Mbappe and Vinicius, I don’t see a third player other than Mudryk in this position in Europe. Mudryk has crazy potential.”
It provides a hugely glowing review of the young winger, who could be subject to plenty more interest by the January transfer window. It remains to be seen if Arsenal will move for him again, but he could be the ideal candidate to bolster the right-wing.
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