Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has, on Sunday evening, provided his response to the club missing out on the signature of long-time target Mykhailo Mudryk.
The name of wide-man Mudryk, of course, has taken its place front and centre in the English football headlines across the last 24 hours.
This comes after the future of the Shakhtar Donetsk prodigy, on the back of months of speculation, was finally resolved.
Just days on from Arsenal looking as though they had tied up a deal for the Ukrainian international, the Gunners were trumped at the last, by none other than London rivals Chelsea.
The Blues, it is understood, have agreed to a deal worth a whopping €100 million, with Mudryk having put pen to paper on a 7.5-year contract, featuring the option for a further year.
Mudryk contract is 7.5 years with option to extend by 12 months #CFC https://t.co/FSfFvUNOk3
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) January 15, 2023
Speaking to the media this evening, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of Chelsea’s Mudryk capture was put to none other than Mikel Arteta.
The club’s boss, though, after overseeing a dominant North London Derby victory over Tottenham Hotspur, remained characteristically level-headed on the subject.
After first assuring that he is more than happy with the players currently at his disposal, Arteta reiterated the need for ‘discipline’ during transfer negotiations, before also hinting that the Gunners remain very much on the lookout for fresh blood this month:
“I’m very proud to have the players that we have,” the Spaniard began.
“We always want to improve the squad. The club is the first one that is trying to do everything we can to improve the players.
“But I think as well we have to have some discipline. We have to be very consistent in the targets that we want but also in what we are able to do in each moment.
“We can make the players better – let’s focus on that.
“The window is open, we’ll try to improve the team. There are always a few parties involved.
“The club is willing, they have my support, I have their support, and we will try to do it together.”
“We have to have discipline.”
Mikel Arteta response to Arsenal missing out on Mykhaylo Mudryk.https://t.co/JBwDHnreUD
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) January 15, 2023
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