Arsenal, along with Premier League rivals Manchester City and Newcastle United, are interested in capturing the signature of A-list attacker Mykhaylo Mudryk.
The Gunners added the Ukrainian to their January shortlist, despite already having been rumoured to sign Youri Tielemens and Brazilian youngsters Robert Renan and Danilo already.
Arsenal will head into this World Cup at the top of the Premier League after a stellar start to the campaign, but the one worry on their mind will be the lack of depth in comparison to rivals Manchester City.
With Saka (England) and Martinelli (Brazil) tipped to go far in Qatar, The Gunners options out wide will be stretched with their key players potentially needing rest.
This is where Mudryk steps in. The wonderkid is arguably the most captivating player in Europe at the moment, and his form at Shakhtar Donetsk isn’t showing any signs of slowing.
The winger has 5 goals and 6 assists in 11 domestic games this term, whilst charting 3 goals and 2 assists on the big stage in the Champions League for Shakhtar Donetsk, catching Premier League clubs’ attention.
Speaking to CBS Sports back in September, Mudryk hinted an Arsenal move would excite him, as he said: "I think every guy dreams about the Premier League. It's hard to say [who his preferred move is], but Arsenal is a very good team, very good coach. I like the way they play."
The rapid winger is similar to Gabriel Martinelli, with his sharp runs, movement and speed always causing a threat to defences. Both also love to play on the left wing, allowing them to cut inside on their stronger right foot.
Mudryk's blistering pace suits the Premier League, and his fearless and direct style of play in addition to this, makes him devastating in a 1v1 situation. He often leaves defenders in two minds; whether to drop back due to his speed, and allow him to run at them, or press high, and consequently overcommitting.
The fit would be perfect as he provides great depth for an attack which is already of the highest quality, whilst also sending a serious message to the rest of the Premier League that Arsenal mean business in the title race.
His signature would put Arsenal back anything from £75-100 million, which would be a concern for Arteta, as when Martinelli, Saka and Jesus are firing, he could have an expensive price tag on his bench. Nicolas Pepe's hefty transfer fee could still be haunting Arsenal.
However to become a top team, depth and competition is crucial, and Mudryk is clearly special. The Ukrainian would make Arsenal's attack even more frightening, and The Gunners will want to do everything they can to try and hold off Pep Guardiola and his City side from retaining the Premier League title in 2022/23.
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