It isn't lost on Arsenal fans that Leandro Trossard has a better record at the club than Mykhailo Mudryk has since he joined Chelsea in January. The dramatic turnaround from being in pole position to complete a deal for the 22-year-old just to be pipped to the post by the Blues was deeply enfuriating for supporters but they're the ones laughing now.
Trossard has already opened his account for the Gunners and has two assists in his first nine games as well. His first start to life in London has been born out of an easy transition to his new club. Nor does he not have to worry about adapting to a fresh league and he isn't situated far from home either.
Mudryk, on the other hand, has moved from turmoil in Ukraine and uncertainty over his future to a new city, foreign land and unforgiving league. He has also had the added trouble of coming into a deeply unsettled team whereas Trossard has been intergrated into a side challenging for the title.
READ MORE: Chelsea prepare huge Victor Osimhen offer to beat Man Utd as Napoli set £115m transfer price tag
Now, with European football back on the agenda for Arsenal's season, Trossard is set for a key role in the side. Trying to balance Thursday night football with a run-in against the odds will be a big test for Mikel Arteta but Trossard's instant impact at the Emirates Stadium has given early positivity that he is up the job.
There is a blow though with his first half injury against Bournemouth meaning he won't be involved in the last-16 first leg away at Sporting CP. "It is a worry, he came to me straight away and said he couldn't continue," Arteta explained of the incident.
"He'd felt something when he was tracking back, so we had to take him off. We'll assess him and see how he is." For a 28-year-old the Belgian has a strong fitness record, only missing one lengthy spell in his professional career so far. This will come as piece of mind with his durability another added bonus to the deal.
The other factor here is that Trossard, as a proven Premier League level player, only cost an initial £21m whereas Mudryk had an inflated £62m base cost for Chelsea. Not bowing to demands financially from rivals across the contintent is now a staple of Stan Kroenke's reign.
Whereas previously is was seen as being tight, Arsenal have managed to perfect their strategy and are now efficient with their business. It would have been easy, especially with the noises Mudryk himself was making in reference to joining the club, to cave in to the idea that he was necessary to strike whilst the iron is hot and do a deal in the winter.
That was a big call to make but once more it has been proven right so far. Had Trossard been fit he would almost certainly have been lining up against Sporting on Thursday whereas Mudryk is facing added competition to get into the Chelsea side ahead of their Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.
As has been the case for the past 18 months, Kroenke has played his cards right.
READ NEXT:
Richard Keys and Andy Gray respond to Arsenal celebrations vs Bournemouth and ask key question
Mikel Arteta proves elite point with three Arsenal decisions against Bournemouth
Edu's perfect reaction to Arsenal comeback as Bournemouth stunned
What Jamie Carragher did to Gary Neville after Bournemouth comeback that Arsenal fans will love
Arsenal player ratings vs Bournemouth as Reiss Nelson grabs chance but Smith Rowe poor
