Think January signings don’t work? Look at Trossard’s impact on Arsenal

A rsenal had been linked with Mykhailo Mudryk for some time before they missed out on the young winger in January. Shakhtar Donetsk were playing hardball over the Ukraine international, for good reason, but Arsenal were not willing to pay over the odds. Chelsea stepped in and spent £89m to sign Mudryk.

He put in a bright performance on his debut, a 30-minute cameo against Liverpool, but he has struggled to adapt to his new surroundings. Nearly three months after he signed for Chelsea, the 22-year-old is yet to complete 90 minutes in the Premier League, never mind score a goal.

Mudryk may well come good for Chelsea but he has not provided an immediate impact – and that is what Arsenal needed in January. Mikel Arteta wanted another attacker to ease the burden on his squad and provide cover after Gabriel Jesus was injured at the World Cup. Rather than peruse the continent for an additional forward, Arsenal looked to the south coast of England and signed Leandro Trossard.

New Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi had fallen out with the Belgium international, criticising his attitude in training and dropping him from this squad. Trossard had 18 months left to run on his deal, but the 28-year-old was depreciating in value, so Brighton allowed him to join Arsenal for £26m. Considering Trossard was no longer a first-team regular under De Zerbi, it was a deal that suited all parties.

Trossard was not immediately first-choice at Arsenal either, and understandably so. Arteta decided to ease him into the team as he persisted with a frontline of Gabriel Martinelli, Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka after the World Cup. Trossard’s goal in the 1-1 draw with Brentford in February gave supporters a glimpse of what was to come from their new