Martinelli put on high alert as Mudryk signing draws near for Arsenal

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By Martin Graham | 14th Jan 2023

A former Ukrainian Premier League coach, Vyacheslav Grozny, has claimed that Mykhaylo Mudryk will displace Gabriel Martinelli immediately he joins Arsenal.

Grozny made these comments based on Mudryk’s form for Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine, which has seen him score 10 goals and provide eight assists in 18 Ukrainian Premier League games for the league leaders.

Martinelli is no slouch either, but his seven goals and two assists from 17 Premier League games pales in comparison to the Ukrainian forward, whose signing is, according to reports, a few details from completion.

Mudryk’s signing is meant to provide competition for Martinelli down the left wing and Mikel Arteta will cherish the push that both 21-year-olds can give each other in the coming months as their ultimate goal of Premier League glory draws near.

But former Dnipro and Spartak Moscow coach Grozny believes Martinelli’s form in front of goal is “much worse” compared to Mudryk’s and that his compatriot will make the left wing at Arsenal his own in no time.

Speaking to FanDay about the impending signing, Grozny said: “Mudryk wants to join Arsenal. Arteta wants to create a Ukrainian partnership with Mudryk and (Oleksandr) Zinchenko on the left flank.

“He will play right away. There is no one better than Mudryk in his position at Arsenal. Martinelli, after the World Cup, needs time to return to his best level. He now looks much worse than Mudryk.”

Grozny also believes that Arsenal will not pay Shakhtar’s valuation of €100 million for the young winger, despite news claiming that the Gunners have finally agreed a few which could rise to that amount thanks to the bonuses and add-ons still being discussed between both clubs.

“No chance. No one will pay 100 million euros for Mudryk!” Grozny added. “I think the issue will be resolved at the end of January, and for the amount that Arsenal wants. The price will be decent enough, but far from the one that Shakhtar wants.”

In the meantime, Martinelli will be focused on helping Arsenal win the upcoming North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is currently focused on making sure his side returns to the Emirates with three points and midfielder Emile Smith-Rowe has given an insight into what the manager’s methods for achieving victory are.

Arsenal lost a UEFA Champions League place at the tail end of last season thanks to a 3-0 defeat at Spurs. There is nothing to lose for the Gunners this time around, but it could serve as the basis for Arteta’s pre-match speech to his team, according to Smith-Rowe.

“This game couldn’t have come at a better time for us. We’re feeling really good at the moment and all the boys are itching to get out there,” Smith-Rowe, who has seen his participation in the season for Arsenal limited due to injury, said.

“Maybe the manager will talk about last season’s game in the build-up to Sunday but most of us already know how painful that defeat was and we’ll use that energy to help us on Sunday.”