Arsenal legend Paul Merson backed Arsenal to sign Barcelona winger Raphinha after missing out on 22-year-old winger Mykhailo Mudryk.

According to Merson, Arsenal will be "very disappointed" after missing out on signing Mudryk to Chelsea, adding that the Gunners will now attempt to sign Raphinha this January transfer window.

Arsenal failed to sign Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk despite chasing the Ukrainian for over two weeks.

Arsenal’s Premier League London rivals Chelsea announced the signing of Mudryk on Sunday.

“They’ll be very disappointed, of course they will,” Merson told Sky Sports over Arsenal’s failure to bring Mudryk to the Emirates.

“They have been chasing him for a couple of weeks; it has all been Arsenal talk: will they pay enough, will they go a little bit further?" Then Chelsea have come from absolutely nowhere and blown Arsenal out of the water and that’s what it is like.

“Now they have got to regroup again." I think they might go for Raphael in Barcelona. Barcelona have still got to settle their books.”