Hickey shows Mudryk and Arsenal that he is the real deal

Scotland developed a effective 3- victory over Ukraine on Wednesday to top Nations League Team B.

It may well have been an night to savour the abilities of ‘the Ukrainian Neymar’, Mykhaylo Mudryk.

In its place, the Shakhtar Donetsk winger, who has been closely connected with a transfer to Arsenal, observed himself completely peripheral to the match.

There was a dashing surge in the initially few of minutes that threatened to set the tone for the evening, but right after that was snuffed out amid a tiny stress in the Scots’ defence, he identified himself outshone by yet another player who has been connected with the Emirates club.

Hickey outshines Mudryk

Aaron Hickey only arrived on the field as a substitute for the hurt Nathan Patterson midway as a result of the very first 50 %, but the whole-back again gave an attained efficiency on the right of the defence.

It was all the much more amazing specified that he is by nature a left-back. The Brentford player, even though, ongoing to boost his burgeoning reputation soon after a summertime go to the London club from Bologna with a formidable display screen on the right of the defence.

Of course, he is unlikely to gain much of the spotlight following goals from John McGinn and a double from Lyndon Dykes, who scored 2 times off the bench, but in snuffing out Mudryk so comprehensively, there can be tiny doubt that this was a different phase toward the elite for the youthful defender.

Hickey set for the really top

And he was analyzed in this activity. Mudryk showed a willingness to enjoy broad at all prices, but Hickey confirmed extraordinary poise in positioning himself properly during. On the rare situations that Ukraine threatened, he was on hand to deal with the risk, notify to the risk equally out wide from the winger and down the channel from midfield runners.

He won 75% of his floor duels, his only aerial duel and received two fouls when taking part in devoid of conceding 1.

He even came near to scoring, pouncing on a free ball at the edge of the box ahead of unleashing a shot that was deflected narrowly previous.

Arsenal might not have come contacting this summer, but they will no doubt have been retaining an eye on Mudryk in this match – but it will have been Hickey who impressed them.