Chelsea's £88m transfer can turn into masterclass but Graham Potter already knows Arsenal truth

March 29, 2023

Chelsea's £88m transfer can turn into masterclass but Graham Potter already knows Arsenal truth

A lot of Chelsea supporters might have hoped they would have seen more of Mykhailo Mudryk's ability so far but a lot of patience is required for the Ukrainian winger

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Chelsea head coach Graham Potter

Chelsea head coach Graham Potter (Image: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)

"Blue."

It's not often one-word replies would get Chelsea supporters so excited but when Mykhailo Mudryk said this in response to what colour London is, it definitely saw the Ukrainian's stock rise even higher. Comments like that will only increase his popularity because there hasn't been too much to shout about on-the-pitch so far during his short time at Stamford Bridge.

Signed for an initial £62million, which could rise to £88m with add-ons, in the January transfer window from Shakhtar Donetsk, huge things were expected from Mudryk. A big-money signing like that is always going to be exciting for supporters, but the fact Mudryk was taken right from under Arsenal's nose made it even sweeter for Chelsea fans. Gunners supporters were left gutted.

Instead, table-topping Arsenal went out and signed Leandro Trossard, who was approaching the end of his contract at Brighton. Mudryk and Trossard have had rather contrasting starts at their respective clubs. One cost £27m and the other was £88m (eventually with add-ons), so logic would suggest the more expensive player makes more of an impact, but not in this case.

READ MORE: Mason Mount's main concern revealed as Graham Potter has January transfers to ease Chelsea issue

Trossard has scored one goal and provided six assists in all competitions for Arsenal thus far and has adapted to Mikel Arteta's way of playing almost seamlessly. Meanwhile, it's been a bit more of a challenge for Mudryk, who is yet to open his account for the Blues just yet but has registered one assist in his seven appearances.

Mudryk's Chelsea career so far

35 minutes vs Liverpool (A) – Played on the left wing, no goals and no assists

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45 minutes vs Fulham (H) – Played on the left wing, no goals and no assists

67 minutes vs West Ham United (A) – Played on the left wing, no goals and no assists

71 minutes vs Borussia Dortmund (A) – Played on the left wing, no goals and no assists

26 minutes vs Southampton (H) – Played on the left wing, no goals and no assists

7 minutes vs Tottenham (A) – Played on the left wing, no goals and no assists

82 minutes vs Leicester City (A) – Played as a centre-forward/left wing, no goals and one assist

It's not too much of a surprise

Trossard has years of Premier League experience. Sometimes that term is overused and its significance is overstated but not in this case. Mudryk has just arrived in a brand-new country and league while playing very limited football in Ukraine with their winter break coming at the end of November.

The new Arsenal signing, however, had been playing consistent football down on the south coast with Brighton, albeit he dropped out of the side towards the end of his time at the Amex Stadium. Either way, Trossard starting the way he has in an Arsenal side that is playing the best football the club have seen in decades is hardly a surprise.

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Mudryk, though, with all the settling in he has to do to a new culture, has been in and out of a Chelsea side that are still in transition, still learning the ways of head coach Graham Potter. The remainder of the season is big for Mudryk, granted, but next term will be even bigger for the 22-year-old attacker.

Potter knows Mudryk reality

Potter is under no illusions when it comes to Mudryk. He knows that the new Chelsea signing will need plenty of time to settle in at Stamford Bridge. He isn't expecting huge results from the Ukrainian immediately and that is reflected with the little football he has played since signing in January.

"He will get better and better," Potter said on Mudryk following his assist against Leicester this month. "He is a young player that hasn't got that much experience, so each game he will get better and better.

"His attitude is fantastic, he wants to help the team and work with the team. I'm delighted he got an assist and helped us."

In another press conference, Potter elaborated on Mudryk: "Hopefully he can benefit from the time he's had. It's not easy for him to arrive in the middle of pre-season [with Shakhtar not playing since November].

"To come to a new country, new club, new league, and hit his maximum level. I know people look at the fee but it does not change the situation he is in.

"We're positive about him, we're positive about the future for him. But we need to help him settle and help him understand what he needs to do to help us."

Mudryk has played just 334 minutes in all competitions since signing for Chelsea. Out of the eight signings made in the January transfer window, only Noni Madueke (182 minutes) and David Datro Fofana (105 minutes) have played less for the Blues.

The Chelsea winger is a slow-burner at this stage, regardless of the money spent on him. It's unfair to solely judge him for the few months he will have played by the time the season ends. If judgement is needed; come back at the end of 2023 perhaps.

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Chelsea's £88m transfer can turn into masterclass but Graham Potter already knows Arsenal truth

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