Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Mykhaylo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk. This comes just days after Joao Felix had joined Chelsea despite interest from the Gunners.
Felix made the switch to Chelsea after the Blues agreed to meet the high financial demands of Atletico Madrid that saw a dry loan sorted and the Portuguese international extend his deal with the Spanish side before the switch. Arsenal meanwhile opted not to fight with their west London rivals, clearly believing it was not a cost-effective move for them to invest in.
Felix was thrown straight into the team by Graham Potter in their derby game against Fulham on Thursday evening and, despite looking impressive, found his game cut short after receiving a red card. The forward slid in with his studs high on Kenny Tete.
READ MORE: Chelsea fall for Atletico Madrid 'trap' as Arsenal told they were right to dodge Joao Felix deal
This is Felix’s second successive red card in as many seasons. The 23-year-old was given a second yellow card for dissent seconds after his first for lashing out at Athletic Club's Unai Vencedor during a game last season. It was a game which saw Atleti drop two points and resulted in Felix missing two games.
On his Chelsea debut Felix had been performing well but the pressure seemed to get the better of him and he saw red. He’ll miss the next three Premier League games against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and the reverse Fulham fixture, while the suspension will cost his side financially too.
The adaption period for any player will vary based upon the league they’ve come from, the environment they’re entering, and the manager they’ve played under with their specific system amongst other things. For Arsenal to commit to a six-month loan on a player moving from such a contrasting place to another with no longevity to his future on the terms Atletico wanted, it would have been a huge risk.
Last night’s incident comes as a vindication to Arsenal that instead, they’ve pushed ahead with a player they plan on investing in to give them an impact both this season and for many into the future, in Mudryk. It leaves scope for potential investment in other areas before the window closes, as Arteta ensures that only quality enters through the doors of the club under his tenure.
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