Faster than Mbappe; Arsenal target is Champions League’s quickest player

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Josip Juranovic knows first-hand what can happen when you let Mykhaylo Mudryk get up to full speed.

Just before the half hour mark during Shakhtar Donetsk’s 1-1 Champions League group-stage draw with Celtic in September, the much-coveted Ukraine international turned on the afterburners, roasted Juranovic like a Thanksgiving turkey and smashed the ball past Joe Hart and into the back of the visitor’s net. 

In fact, Mudryk has recorded the joint-quickest top speed in the whole of Champions League this season. Only Ousmane Dembele of Barcelona can keep up with the Arsenal target, who’s 36.6 km/h land speed record leaves even the likes of Alphonso Davies, Kylian Mbappe and Rafael Leao trailing in his wake. 

“What a player the 21-year-old looks. He’s lightning quick,” said an awe-struck Nick McPheat, the BBC reporter blown away by Mudryk’s almost supernatural turn of pace en route to that superb solo strike against Celtic in Warsaw. 

“I’m not joking when I say Mudryk might be the fastest player I’ve ever watched.” 

Mykhaylo Mudryk is the fastest player in the Champions League

This is not a classic case of ‘too much speed, not enough haste’ either. Mudryk, unlike, say, Fulham’s Dan James, is as quick upstairs as he is on the ground. There is an end product to go with his rocket-fuelled bursts. In fact, Mudryk averages a goal or an assist every single game he plays at the moment; seven goals and a further seven assists in 14 Shakhtar Donetsk matches. 

“Mudrik is now the most fashionable young football player in Eastern Europe. Real Madrid are really interested in him. Really,” Ukrainian reporter Igor Tsyganyk tells Football Hub. “Arsenal also. There has also been some contact and there are some informal conversations with (The Gunners).

“In addition, as far as I understand, Shakhtar are seriously considering the option of renewing Mudryk’s contract. There are three real options; Arsenal, Real Madrid and a new contract at Shakhtar.”  

Back in May, Gabriel Martinelli named now-Marseille loanee Nuno Tavares the fastest player currently at Arsenal, in conversation with Premier League Productions. By the time he returns from his sojourn across the Channel, Tavares could have some serious competition.