Mykhailo Mudryk wanted to join Arsenal before completing his £88m transfer to Chelsea, according to Shakhtar Donetsk's sporting director. The revelation from Darijo Srna highlights a significant missed opportunity for the Gunners in the 2023 January window.
Srna stated the winger's preference clearly. "Mykhailo Mudryk preferred joining Arsenal before completing his £88m move to Chelsea," he said. The Ukrainian international ultimately signed for Chelsea, where he has remained since.
While the Mudryk saga is a historical footnote, Arsenal's current trajectory is emphatically positive. The team sits top of the Premier League with a perfect 12 points from four games. Their recent form shows five consecutive wins, including a 4-2 victory at Ipswich last weekend.
Mikel Arteta's squad, despite the absence of defenders William Saliba, Ben White and Piero Hincapié, has scored eight goals while conceding just once. Bukayo Saka leads the scoring charts with three goals so far this season. The team's strength in depth is evident in the current squad list.
The immediate focus shifts to maintaining this momentum. Arsenal travel to face sixth-placed Brighton this weekend, looking to extend their winning run and stays at the summit of the standings. The club's current success shows a recruitment strategy that has moved on from past near-misses like Mudryk's.
More detail at Sky Sports Football
