Arsenal legend Ian Wright has delivered an honest verdict on Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk after the Gunners missed out on his signature in the January transfer window. The Blues completed an £88million deal for Mudryk after hijacking Arsenal's deal for the Ukraine international.
The north Londoners responded by agreeing a £27million deal with Brighton to sign Leandro Trossard instead. Mikel Arteta wanted to bolster his attacking options mid-season following Gabriel Jesus' injury during the World Cup in Qatar.
Sporting director Edu Gaspar told football.london at the London Football Awards that a move for Trossard was not reactive and instead a prepared option if the club missed out on Mudryk. Rio Ferdinand has already urged two Manchester United stars to follow the Belgian's example at Arsenal after he has impressed in his first 10 appearances under Mikel Arteta.
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Trossard has provided five assists and scored one goal in his first 10 games for the Gunners compared to Mudryk's one assist in seven appearances for Chelsea. The Belgian forward was a standout performer in Arsenal's win against Fulham at the weekend, setting up each of the Gunners' three goals against the Cottagers.
Wright believes Mudryk would not have had the same impact as Trossard if the Ukrainian winger had completed a move to the Emirates Stadium. He said on his Wrighty’s House podcast : “I don’t care what anyone says, Mudryk, and we’ve seen up to this point, he wouldn’t have done what Trossard has done what Trossard has been doing up to this point.”
Trossard's experience in the Premier League has allowed him to accelerate his adaptation period under Mikel Arteta, whilst Mudryk is still trying to fit in to a new lifestyle at Stamford Bridge. This has allowed Arsenal to get the best out of the Belgium international instantly as they continue their Premier League title challenge and bid to progress into the last eight of the Europa League.
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