It was a weekend filled with mixed emotions for Arsenal fans, who witnessed their side triumph in the North London Derby twenty-four hours after Chelsea hijacked a deal to sign priority target Mykhailo Mudryk.
For weeks the Gunners had been in talks with Shakhtar Donetsk as they looked to strike a deal for the Ukrainian winger, but just as things started to progress, Chelsea blew them out of the water with a €100million (£88.6million) bid. Just like that, Arsenal’s hopes had faded and before you knew it, Mudryk was being presented to the Stamford Bridge crowd, signalling the end of a dramatic and fascinating transfer saga.
Speaking after the 2-0 win at Tottenham on Sunday, Mikel Arteta was asked about the deal but refused to show any signs of disappointment, supporting the players that he has already and reiterating the importance of sticking to the club’s strategy.
