Oleksandr Zinchenko breaks silence on Mykhailo Mudryk Arsenal snub ahead of England vs Ukraine

Arsenal star Oleksandr Zinchenko has told his fellow Ukraine international Mykhailo Mudryk he only has one option after sealing a January transfer to Chelsea. Throughout the build up to the winter window window, talk of the 22-year-old joining Arsenal ramped up significantly, but the Blues completed a major transfer hijack which saw them sign Mudryk instead.

Edu and Mikel Arteta were then forced to look for an alternative with just under two weeks of the trading period left. Marcus Thuram and Raphinha were floated as options, but the Gunners opted to sign Leandro Trossard from Brighton and it is a decision that is proving to be the correct one.

The Belgian international has scored one goal and contributed six assists since his winter switch, while Mudryk has managed just one assist, which came in the 3-1 victory over Leicester.

“He’ll get better and better,” Chelsea boss Graham Potter said of Mudryk after the away victory over Leicester. “He’s a young player that hasn’t that much experience, so each game he’ll 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.”

Now on international duty, Mudryk has the opportunity to impress against England on Sunday in a European championship qualifier with perhaps less pressure to deliver. The break will also see him link up with Arsenal’s Zinchenko and the Gunners’ summer signing was asked about the transfer saga, revealing he has just told Mudryk one thing.

“I told him, ‘It’s gone already, it doesn’t matter what you wanted, what the other guys wanted’,” Zinchenko told the Daily Mail.

“Now you’re a Chelsea player, you signed a long-term contract and you have only one option, only one way: direct and forward. Unfortunately he didn’t become an Arsenal player – as I wanted personally! – but it’s life.”