How Chelsea’s transfer hijack made Arsenal stronger | OneFootball

When Chelsea swooped in to snatch Mykhaylo Mudryk from under Mikel Arteta’s nose, it felt like a blow.

Nearly three years later, that twist has proved a blessing, with Leandro Trossard’s impact continuing to underline just how costly Chelsea’s gamble has been.

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When Chelsea hijacked Arsenal’s move for Mykhaylo Mudryk in January 2023, there was a brief sense of frustration.

The club had invested time and effort, only to be outbid at the last moment. Yet, as in the old parable of the farmer and the horse, what seems misfortune in the moment can turn out to be fortune in disguise.

In the story, a farmer’s horse runs away, and the neighbours rush to commiserate. “Bad luck,” they say. “Perhaps,” the farmer replies. The next week, the horse returns with a herd of wild horses. “Good luck!” cry the neighbours. “Perhaps,” says the farmer again. Soon after, the farmer’s son breaks his leg taming one of them. “Terrible luck,” say the neighbours. “Perhaps,” says the farmer. And when war comes, the injured son is spared from being sent to the front.

Arsenal’s “lost” signing followed the same rhythm.

Mudryk had made little effort to hide his desire to join Arsenal. The club’s final offer to Shakhtar Donetsk was worth around £70 million with add-ons, but Chelsea intervened late, offering more money up front and a structure Shakhtar preferred along with a seven-year deal for the player that Arsenal would not match.

An £89 million deal was sealed in days. Arsenal walked away, disappointed but determined to find a player for that position. Mudryk reportedly cried that he wasn’t going to Arsenal.

Photo via Arsenal.com

The Gunners moved immediately for Leandro Trossard, whose situation at Brighton had soured under Roberto De Zerbi, despite five goals and an assist in 11 appearances after the coach replaced Graham Potter.

Signed for £21m million just five days after Mudryk signed for Chelsea, Trossard arrived with Premier League experience, no need for adaptation and the quiet assurance of a mature player who knew exactly what he was doing.

Since then, the Belgian has been everything Arsenal needed.

His decisive goal at Craven Cottage this weekend, an instinctive finish from a Bukayo Saka corner after a Gabriel flick, was his 31st for the club in all competitions, along with 25 assists, in 133 appearances. Another important three points won.

This season, Trossard is averaging a goal contribution every 97 minutes and is Arsenal’s joint-highest goalscorer. His reliability has proved invaluable to Mikel Arteta, offering composure wherever he is deployed, be it at left wing, centre forward, attacking midfield or as a second striker.

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By contrast, Mudryk’s career at Stamford Bridge has spiralled. The 24-year-old produced just 10 goals and 11 assists in 73 matches, and has not played since late 2024 after testing positive for meldonium, a performance-enhancing substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency since 2016.

The Football Association investigation remains ongoing. Mudryk has denied any wrongdoing, calling the result “a complete shock” and saying he is cooperating fully with the authorities.

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

In short, what began as “bad luck” has shown itself, with time, as the opposite. Arsenal were spared an £89 million mistake and signed a player far better suited to Mikel Arteta’s team.

Mudryk’s stalled career is Chelsea’s burden. Arsenal’s steady progress to the top of the table is their reward.

When Chelsea swooped in to screw Arsenal, few could have imagined who would truly pay the price.

But like the farmer in the fable, Arsenal didn’t panic. They simply moved on, trusted their judgement, and found fortune waiting in unexpected form.

As for Chelsea, the deal has become yet another symbol of their reckless spending and scattergun recruitment.