Any Arsenal fans tuning into Shakhtar Donetsk’s Champions League group-stage clash against Celtic on Wednesday may have been wondering what all the fuss was about. It was Mykhaylo Mudryk who coughed up possession in the build-up to Reo Hatate’s deflected opener.
And, for the first 25 minutes or so in Warsaw, this was shaping up to be an evening to forget for arguably the most coveted footballer in Eastern Europe. Until, of course, Mudryk stepped on the afterburners, breezing past Josip Juranovic before slamming a left-footed shot into the roof of Joe Hart’s net.
Cometh the (half) hour, cometh a man dubbed the third-best left-winger on the continent, behind only Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. That is the company Mudryk keeps these days.
The greatest footballers can change a game in an instant; can bend the narrative to their whims. And while it certainly wasn’t the most complete, consistent performance of Mudryk’s career, the jet-heeled 21-year-old is proving on the biggest stage that no defender can afford to drop their guard for even a split second with him around.
Mykhaylo Mudryk shows why Arsenal want him
“For me, Mudryk is the best player in Europe in this position,” says Shakhtar director and Croatia legend Darijo Srna; his stance backed up by electrifying performances against both Celtic and RB Leipzig in the group-stages.
“After (Kylian) Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, I don’t see a third player other than Mudryk in this position in Europe. Mudryk has crazy potential.”
From Fernandinho to Fred, Willian to Elano; the road from Donetsk to England is one well-travelled. It’s a path Mudryk is hoping to take, even if Shakhtar have been quick to warn the likes of Arsenal and Everton that anyone hoping to sign the 21-year-old Ukraine international in 2023 will have to part with ‘much more’ than £30 million.
‘I do dream (of the Premier League). I think every guy dreams about the Premier League,” Mudryk told CBS Sports last week.
“Arsenal is a very good team with a very good coach (Mikel Arteta). I like the way they play. Yes, it would be hard to say no from my side.
“In winter we will see.”
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