Arsenal could accelerate their pursuit for Mykhailo Mudryk as their stop-gap replacement for Gabriel Jesus in January.
After all, CBS journalist Ben Jacobs claimed that Mikel Arteta believes the Ukrainian winger is capable of operating in central areas.
“I think Mikel Arteta thinks that he can spend more time during games in central areas and even under select game management situations, switch sides as well.”
“So, it’s one to watch from Arsenal’s point of view”, Jacobs told GiveMeSport.
Could Mudryk step in during Jesus’ absence?
Recently, Brazilian outlet sportv reported that Gabriel Jesus suffered a knee injury against Cameroon, which was set to force him out of action for 3 months.
Simply put, this revelation could make-or-break Arsenal’s Premier title ambitions this season.
While Eddie Nketiah has proven his minerals in the past, doing so in a title race is a completely different kettle of fish.
Going by Ben Jacobs’ claim, Arteta could perhaps earmark the Shakhtar Donestk forward as the perfect candidate to function as a false 9.
After all, an auxiliary striker is not demanded to simply stay up top, but to pick different positions across the pitch and create space for others.
Considering Arteta wishes to also see Mudryk switch flanks, the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka will often take up a central role as part of a fluid front 3, which is right up the Gunners boss’ playbook.
With the £56 million-rated starlet (as per Dean Jones via GiveMeSport) being a natural winger, he would thrive in such a free-roaming role.
Keeping in mind that the Arsenal manager reckons he is the type of player that should take up central areas, it is not out of the question that the youngster is seen as a potential false 9 option.
Only time will tell whether Arsenal bring in Mykhailo Mudryk as a plan B for Gabriel Jesus in January, which would certainly be a risky decision, given his dearth of experience as a striker.
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