Arsenal are eyeing Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Mykhaylo Mudryk as their next signing for manager Mikel Arteta. The Gunners boss remains convinced that he needs an attack-minded central midfielder added to his squad.

The Gunners won their first five matches of the 2022/23 season and they remain on top of the Premier League table, despite their 3-1 loss to Manchester United last weekend. Lucas Paqueta had been Arteta’s priority target but Arsenal lost out to West Ham United.

Meanwhile, the 21-year-old Ukrainian is valued at £30m and Shakhtar will not stand in his way if a suitable offer arrives in January.

Player Profile

Mykhaylo Mudryk has made 31 appearances for Shakhtar, scoring four goals and assisting twelve times (stats via transfermarkt). The midfielder is a skilled player that can play in multiple positions in the frontline but mostly prefers the left wing. He is an ideal system player for an attacking style of football.

Shakhtar had known early in his youth days that Mudryk was full of potential and as such, he was promoted to the senior team in 2018. The 2021–22 season was the best of his senior career, where he scored two goals and provided nine assists in 19 matches (stats via transfermarkt).

Last season, he averaged 4.8 progressive passes per match, one of the highest in his team. He also attempted more than ten dribbles per 90 minutes and had a success rate of over 50 per cent. As a result, you would often find him getting on the byline with the ball. And due to his adept crossing, he offers a double threat as defenders are unsure about whether he will cross the ball or bring the ball inside by dribbling.

His movement off the ball is also very intelligent. He is good at spotting empty space and peeling away from opposition defenders in the blink of an eye to make himself available for his teammates.

His understanding of the game allows him to anticipate where he needs to be for his side. This sees him move away from his base left-wing position and drift into more central areas when his side is building into the opposition area.

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Verdict

Mikel Arteta has revolutionized the Gunners since taking over and has filled the team with youngsters, reducing the average age of the senior squad. Mudryk fits that young and exciting profile.

Arsenal have signed the right players in the summer transfer window and their only position of concern is a backup for Bukayo Saka, with Reiss Nelson and Nicolas Pepe not up to the mark. As for Mudryk, he showed last year that he is ready for the big stage. While Mudryk might not be at Paqueta’s level yet, he is much cheaper and could prove to be a shrewd signing.

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