Arsenal’s escape: A hijacked transfer, suspension, and now unwanted winger | OneFootball

As Chelsea prepare to move on from Mykhailo Mudryk, poor form and his doping suspension point to a disaster Arsenal narrowly avoided.

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Arsenal’s failed January 2023 move for Mykhailo Mudryk is looking better with time, as Chelsea are reportedly set to leave the winger out of their squad next season under manager Enzo Maresca, who also plans to exclude striker Christopher Nkunku.

Once seen as one of Europe’s most exciting young wingers, Mykhailo Mudryk came close to joining Arsenal in January 2023. The club had a deal in place before Chelsea stepped in at the last minute with a significantly larger offer and an eight-year contract.

Mudryk was open about his desire to move to the Emirates, and reports at the time suggested he was devastated when Arsenal declined to match the terms.

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Since then, his career has unravelled. The latest development — his expected exclusion from Chelsea’s 2024–25 squad — follows months of silence after reports emerged in December that he had failed a doping test.

The FA has yet to bring formal charges, but Mudryk remains provisionally suspended. His B sample was due in January, but no further updates have been provided.

Mudryk last played in Chelsea’s 2–0 win over Heidenheim in the Conference League at the end of November, scoring in that match. He was an unused substitute against Aston Villa on 1 December and hasn’t been named in a match day squad since.

The suspension, combined with an already underwhelming spell at the club, has only highlighted the scale of Chelsea’s €70m+, eight-year gamble.

Across 73 games, Mudryk has managed 10 goals and 11 assists. Those numbers were poor even before his suspension. If the ban runs until 2028, as currently expected, the transfer may come to define a new era of recklessness at Stamford Bridge.

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Arsenal, in contrast, responded to the failed deal with discipline. They moved quickly to sign Leandro Trossard from Brighton for €24m. The Belgian has since become a key figure under Mikel Arteta, with 25 goals and 21 assists in 114 games.

Both players are now valued at €30m, but the paths since January 2023 could hardly be more different. Trossard is a regular in a team competing for major honours. Mudryk is provisionally suspended, out of the squad, and unlikely to be part of his club’s future.

In hindsight, Arsenal’s decision not to chase Chelsea’s offer looks less like a missed opportunity and more like a well-timed escape.