Arsenal get last laugh in transfer saga as Trossard helps in Chelsea demolition

24 April 2024 , 04:00

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Leandro Trossard set Arsenal on their way as they smashed Chelsea

Chelsea famously flew into Turkey in January last year to land the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk ahead of Arsenal.

But unlike his injury-time free kick over the heads of his team-mates at Wembley last weekend, the Ukrainian’s career in English football has still to take off.

With leading man Cole Palmer out ill, last night was a great chance for the £89m winger to reproduce his international form and show he is ready to play a central role in Mauricio Pochettino’s young side. Yet it took only four minutes to show the Premier League leaders did the best business 15 months ago.

Mudryk was convinced to sign for the West London club by a flying visit to Shakhtar Donetsk’s winter training camp by co-owner Behdad Eghbali. So the Gunners signed Leandro Trossard from Brighton for £30m.

The Belgian opened the scoring with his 16th Arsenal goal - he also has 12 assists - in his 64th appearance for the North London club. Mudryk has six goals and four assists in 53 games for Chelsea.

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The Ukrainian was shackled by Trossard’s former team-mate Ben White down the Arsenal right last night before even the former England full-back outscored him. Mudryk has not become a hate figure for Gunners fans because there is nothing to fear.

More a feeling of relief he was not in red and white last night. There were ironic cheers in the first half when the Ukrainian allowed a ball to run past him and out of play but that was about it.

Mykhaylo Mudryk failed to have an impact at the Emirates

He was jeered off when he was replaced by fellow underachiever Raheem Sterling after 66 minutes. Adapting to a new footballing culture, especially the hectic Premier League, always needs time. Mudryk has had the added burden of moving to London during the invasion of his homeland by Russia and the ongoing, brutal war.

The 23-year-old has also joined a club in chaos on and off the pitch. But like the whole Clearlake Capital project at Stamford Bridge, Mudryk is proving to be a very long-term project.

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Neil McLeman