Chelsea flop was ‘devastated’ when dream move to Arsenal collapsed

Mykhailo Mudryk has shown only flashes of potential during his time at Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

Mykhailo Mudryk was left ‘devastated’ after his dream move to Arsenal collapsed last January.

The Gunners had been confident of signing the winger from Shakhtar Donetsk having identified the winger as a player capable of providing competition for Bukayo Saka.

Mudryk had hinted he was keen on a move to the north London club with a series of suggestive posts on social media, but had his head turned at the last minute by Chelsea.

Todd Boehly blew Arsenal out of the water with his financial offer to Shakhtar and the player ultimately signed for Chelsea for a fee which could eventually rise to £88million.

Mudryk has thus far proved anything but value for money and struggled to win the faith of the three Chelsea managers he has already played for in Graham Potter, Frank Lampard and current incumbent Mauricio Pochettino.

Arsenal, meanwhile, continue to go from strength to strength with Leandro Trossard, the player Mikel Arteta signed as a cheaper alternative, playing a key role in another push for the Premier League title.

According to the Athletic, Arsenal understood that Mudryk was left deeply upset upon learning that his much anticipated move to the Emirates Stadium fell through, which could go some way to explaining why he has found it so hard to settle at Chelsea.

Mudryk was brought on as a late substitute in Sunday’s demoralising Carabao Cup final defeat against Liverpool and is likely to start tonight’s FA Cup tie against Leeds United on the bench.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino is battling to save his job but the former Spurs manager insists he has reason to feel confident he retains the backing of the club’s owners.

‘Why not? I am confident,’ Pochettino said. ‘Until they decide to tell me something else. But at the moment, I don’t think they are going to tell me anything different.”

Winning the FA Cup would ensure Chelsea avoid the ignominy of a second successive season without silverware as well as ensure a return to Europe.

But Pochettino denies he has been told his future depends on whether he qualifies for Europe. ‘From who? From the sporting directors and the owners? No. I don’t remember, I don’t.’