Since the summer, speculation surrounding Mykhaylo Mudryk and a potential move to Arsenal has continued to mount. However, with the January transfer window just around the corner, will all of the talk finally turn into action? Well, according to The Athletic, there’s a real possibility that it could.
A new report claims that the Kroenke family are wanting to back sporting director Edu and manager Mikel Arteta, with Mudryk currently their ‘priority’ target after the club established contact with his representatives. It’s added that sources with knowledge of the deal believe there’s a ‘good chance’ it will happen, although nothing is agreed at present.
Arsenal’s plans to bolster the frontline became even more urgent last week after it was confirmed that star man Gabriel Jesus had undergone successful surgery on a knee injury that could keep him out of action for up to three months.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta’s two-word ‘response’ when asked if Arsenal will sign Mykhaylo Mudryk in January
It leaves Eddie Nketiah as the only natural striker within the first-team squad and with just three goals in his last 19 appearances, extra firepower will almost certainly come in handy.
Although Mudryk operates on the wing, his threat in front of goal is obvious. The Ukrainian international has 10 goals and eight assists to his name so far this season, some of which have come in the Champions League.
So with all of that in mind, how could Mudryk fit in at Arsenal should he arrive in north London next month? For Arteta, there are two obvious options.
One would be to bring Mudryk straight into the side, slotting him in his favoured left-wing position where he has proven to be the most dangerous for Shakhtar Donetsk. This could see Gabriel Martinelli take up a more central role, having previously trained as a centre forward.
Martinelli is enjoying perhaps his best season in an Arsenal shirt yet, scoring five goals in 14 league games. His movement, trickery, sharpness and work rate would no doubt cause all sorts of problems inside the 18-yard box, and with Mudryk and Bukayo Saka on either side of him, it’s difficult not to be excited by the idea.
The second route Arteta could take is to keep things how they are, with Martinelli on the left, Nketiah in the middle and Saka on the right. Considering that new signings are often eased into the setup, this seems like the most probable outcome. However, the aforementioned numbers of Nketiah’s season so far could lead to a fresh approach.
Nevertheless, Arsenal find themselves top of the league and Arteta will know he can rely on his current group of players to maintain consistency, whereas Mudryk could require some time to find his feet.
One of the main issues with the current squad remains a lack of depth and quality in certain areas, especially from the bench. With an unprecedented fixture schedule to deal with due to the winter World Cup and the introduction of five substitutions, depth is more important than ever and so any addition would be a huge boost.
Martinelli and Saka are deemed undroppable right now, and with Jesus’ injury, so is Nketiah. However, the striker must now prove why he should remain in the starting XI ahead of Mudryk's potential arrival in the coming weeks.
READ NEXT:
Arsenal face Europa League dilemma after World Cup highlights familiar Bukayo Saka problem
Arsenal supporters will love what Mikel Arteta did to Marquinhos in Dubai training session
Ben White returns to Arsenal training ahead of AC Milan clash after England World Cup squad exit
Why Arsenal and England hero Bukayo Saka should win 2022 Fans' Footballer of the Year award
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Latest news, rumours and gossip from the Emirates Stadium
