How quick-thinking Arsenal ended up with surprise better deal than Chelsea in the transfer market

Arsenal FC reporter Charles Watts has shared exclusive details on Arsenal’s swift decision-making process last January.

When their pursuit of Mykhailo Mudryk, who eventually joined Chelsea, hit a snag, they quickly turned to Leandro Trossard as a Plan B.

While Arsenal initially focused on signing Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk, they always have backup options in mind.

Trossard emerged as a low-risk alternative to Mudryk. Interestingly, Trossard has proven to be a superior signing, despite not being a long-standing target for the club.

Watts commended Arsenal for their handling of Trossard. He also noted parallels with Chelsea’s deal for Jorginho, suggesting that Chelsea may have rushed in favor of unproven young talent over experienced players.

Reflecting on the events of last January, Watts explained: “The acquisition of Leandro Trossard by Arsenal exemplified a scenario where a club needed to act swiftly in the transfer market.

Throughout January 2023, and in the preceding weeks, Arsenal had been focused on securing Mykhailo Mudryk, believing they would successfully land him.

“However, Chelsea unexpectedly secured the deal near the end of the transfer window, forcing Arsenal to reconsider their options. Despite the setback, Arsenal, driven by their ambition for the Premier League title under Arteta, sought additional firepower.

“Arsenal’s approach in the transfer market always includes backup plans, a strategy led by Edu and Arteta. They have previously demonstrated their ability to swiftly pivot to alternate targets, as seen with their pursuit of Zinchenko following missed opportunities for Lisandro Martinez, and their successful acquisition of Jorginho after failing to secure Moises Caicedo.

“With Chelsea’s acquisition of Mudryk, Arsenal redirected their focus to other targets, identifying Leandro Trossard as a familiar and available option due to his situation with Brighton.

This signing represented a calculated move for Arsenal, offering a versatile and Premier League-ready attacker who aligned well with Arteta’s requirements.”

“He wasn’t necessarily Arsenal’s top priority, but he fit the criteria well and has turned out to be a great asset.

As for a new contract, I haven’t heard any discussions yet, but everyone at the club is pleased with his performance.Since he’s only been with the club for less than 18 months, there’s no hurry. I don’t foresee him leaving anytime soon.”