Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had some reason to celebrate despite losing out on talented Shakhtar winger Mykhaylo Mudryk to arch rivals Chelsea. In a tussle battle between the two London clubs for Mudrky’s signature, the Blues finally triumphed after agreeing to pay outright what the Ukrainian club wanted for their prized asset; €100m. Arsenal on the other hand stuck to their €95m evaluation and restrained themselves from indulging into a bidding war.
Meanwhile, their title charge was intact despite losing to Chelsea in the market, as they toppled local rivals Tottenham in the North London Derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A 2-0 win helped the Gunners open an eight-point gap over second-placed Manchester City, as Arteta apparently put behind the Mykhaylo Mudryk drama to celebrate the emphatic win. However, he did respond on how the club was now going to react after losing their prime target.
Arteta expresses his full support to Arsenal board despite missing out on Mykhaylo Mudryk
Arsenal are in the middle of an unprecedented title challenge, and a couple of good players would just secure them their first Premier League crown since 2004. However, the ‘couple of players’ are yet to come in through the ongoing winter market, as Mykhaylo Mudryk is sever set-back for them after negotiating for months with his former side Shakhtar. Moreover, the 22-year-old too had publicly expressed his desire to play for Arsenal ahead of any other potential suitor.
However, Shakhtar held out on their evaluation of €100m for the Ukraine international, who had amassed 10 goals and 8 assists in 18 games for the club this season. Arsenal right away refused to pay the sum, whereas Chelsea, already on spending-spree, readily sanctioned the amount and even offered more lucrative personal terms to the winger to swoop in him on seven-and-a-half-year contract, with an option of another 12 months.
On being asked about how he felt on seeing Mykhaylo Mudryk join their arch rivals Chelsea over his Arsenal, Arteta, in his post match presser after the Tottenham told Sky Sports:
“I am very proud to have the players that we have. We always want to try to improve the squad. The club are the first ones to try to do everything they can to improve the players we have. But I think we have to have some discipline and we have to be very consistent in the targets we want, but as well what we are able to do in each moment. We can make the players better, let’s focus on that.”
Arteta was further posed with the obvious question, whether his team has enough armoury to sustain the tight calendar and go all the way to lift the title. The Spaniard, expressing his support to the club’s boardroom continued:
“We had some injuries, some long-term injuries and this is not helpful but we can focus on tomorrow. Train better, train better and review the game. The window is open and we will try to improve the team. There are a few parties that are always involved. The club is willing, they have my support, I have their support, we will try to do it together.”
As evident, the Arsenal boss has moved on from the Mykhaylo Mudryk episode and is concentrating on the current crop he has at his disposal. However, the Gunners are not backing from bringing in new players this month, as they have reportedly reignited their interest in Barcelona winger Raphinha, whose move to the Catalan club hasn’t gone to plan, with an average of a mere 49 minutes per game at the club. Brighton’s wantaway winger Leandro Trossard too is being tracked, who could be available for a cheaper fee.