Mykhaylo Mudryk will go straight into Mikel Arteta’s starting XI at Arsenal with the Shakhtar Donetsk winger currently in better form than Gabriel Martinelli, former Ukrainian Premier League coach Vyacheslav Grozny tells FanDay.
Since returning from the Qatar World Cup, Martinelli has two goals and one assist in four Gunners games.
Arsenal fans could be forgiven for wondering exactly what Grozny has been watching, then, with the former Dnipro and Spartak Moscow coach claiming that the buccaneering Brazilian is going through a bit of a barren spell in front of goal. Nothing could be further from the truth.
This does not mean Martinelli can afford to rest on his laurels, however, especially as Arsenal look to secure the services of a player dubbed the ‘third best left winger in Europe’, behind only Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr.
Shakhtar Donetsk’s Ukraine international Mykhailo Mudryk hopes to join Arsenal
“Mudryk wants to join Arsenal,” says Grozny. “Arteta wants to create a Ukrainian partnership with Mudry and (Oleksandr) Zinchenko on the left flank.
“He will play right away. There is no one better than Mudryk in his position at Arsenal. Martinelli, after the World Cup, needs time to return to his best level. He now looks much worse than Mudryk.”
Per Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal held further talks with Mudryk on Monday. The jet-heeled Ukraine international has made no secret of his desire to join the Gunners either, despite late interest from London rivals Chelsea.
Shakhtar continue to hold out for a staggering £85 million, however, though Grozny believes that Mudryk will eventually be sold on Arsenal’s terms.
“No chance. No one will pay 100 million euros for Mudryk!” Grozny adds. “I think the issue will be resolved at the end of January, and for the amount that Arsenal wants. The price will be decent enough, but far from the one that Shakhtar wants.”
According to The Standard, Arsenal have already seen a £55 million bid rejected. Time will tell if a new and improved offer of £62 million is enough to twist Shakhtar’s arm.
“(Mudryk has) got potential to score more than he does. He is powerful, really quick,” explains former England ace Danny Murphy (talkSPORT).
“He’s quite raw. He’s not one of these players with great awareness (who will be) playing really intricate passes. But he’s great on the counter. Really dangerous on the counter. He is a powerful boy. He will add competition for places and you’d think he’d improve.”
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