Arsenal Fans Hate For Noni Madueke Is Wildly Misplaced

Noni Madueke smiled for the camera as he prepared to sign his new Arsenal contract.

He’d just completed a deal worth over $50 million to join one of the Premier League’s most exciting teams and was justifiably feeling good.

After the deal was signed, he expressed his gratitude on Instagram. “Humbled and blessed to be here,” he wrote. “Thank you to everyone who made this possible.

“I can’t wait to get on the pitch and start to repay the faith shown in me. It’s going to be so special.”

His new manager, Mikel Arteta, wasn’t afraid to speak hyperbolically about the club’s latest addition, describing him as one of the best in the division.

“Noni is an exciting and powerful young player, with his performances and numbers in recent seasons being of consistently high quality,” he told the club’s official website.

“He is one of the most talented wide forward players in the Premier League.

“At just 23, Noni already brings experience of club and international football, and he knows the Premier League very well.

“Having seen the quality of Noni’s performances up close in recent seasons, we’re really excited he is joining us. His arrival will really improve our squad.”

The words were echoed by new sporting director, Andrea Berta, who added: ‘We’re very pleased to have concluded an excellent deal for a hugely talented young player in Noni Madueke.

‘Noni’s performance numbers and availability over recent seasons have been exceptional, reflecting his quality and professionalism.

‘Noni is a dynamic, versatile wide forward player with strong technical ability who will significantly strengthen our squad.

‘Noni already has valuable experience at the top level and we know he will make a big impact at Arsenal.

“Together with everyone at the club, we warmly welcome Noni to Arsenal.’

The last phrase sounds like a stock quote for a sporting director to use when a new signing arrives, but in the case of Madueke, it had significance because a segment of the Gunners fanbase is not enamoured with the former Chelsea forward’s arrival.

It began at the beginning of the month as news of Arsenal’s interest in the attacker started to spread.

The hashtag #NoToMadueke trended on social media, and fans signed a petition with the same name more than 5,000 times.

Part of the reason for the ire is that Gunners supporters remember all too well the succession of disastrous acquisitions the North Londoners have made from their cross-city rivals in recent years.

Players like Willian and David Luiz arrived on huge wages, performed abysmally in the red and white shirt and became synonymous with underperformance.

But it seems unduly harsh to tar Madueke with the same brush. He is considerably younger than those two players. He has far more in common with Kai Havertz, a Chelsea signing whom few Arsenal fans would say has failed.

Last season, he was one of the most influential players on an inconsistent team and performed exceptionally.

As pundit Peter Crouch said after one such impressive display against Everton: “He can be unplayable at times. He’s probably more comfortable on the right-hand side, but I don’t think it matters which side he plays.

“When he comes inside from the left, his finishing could be better, but he’s showed that he can easily play anywhere across the front.”

Analysts who watched Chelsea on an even more regular basis were even more effusive in their praise.

“I’m a fan of Madueke,” ex-Blues player Jason Cundy told talkSPORT.

“He gets a lot of stick from Chelsea fans. I know a lot of Arsenal fans aren’t particularly impressed with what they are signing.

“Here is what I will say. He’s a versatile player, and at the end of last season, Madueke was in Chelsea’s best XI.

“What he did was he moved from the right to the left, and he was as effective on the left.

“I like Madueke. I’ll be disappointed to see him leave because of his versatility from the right to the left. With Madueke, I’m disappointed to see him go. I know a lot of Chelsea fans won’t agree with me, but I like him.”

It’s hard to argue that the Gunners didn’t need reinforcements and fresh impetus in the wide positions. Talisman Bukayo Saka was run ragged at times and beset by injury problems.

Madueke is a first-team-ready player who can deputise for Saka while offering an option on the other flank.

With the additions made this summer, there is a strong case that Arsenal’s squad is now the strongest in the league.

The roster’s addition of Christian Norgaard from Brentford and Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad strengthens the midfield, which was already performing well last season. Meanwhile, the anticipated arrival of Victor Gyokeres finally delivers the striker Arsenal has craved for so long.

And Arteta is looking to make further additions as the club gears up for another tilt at the title.

“There’s still a long time in the window and we are seeking still,” he told the media who’d travelled with the club on its tour of Asia.

“In terms of numbers, we are short and we have to improve the depth and quality of the squad. We are constantly looking in the market.

“Until that happens, [we] focus on the players we have – and I’m very pleased with what I have seen in the last 10-15 days.”

The new signings already enthuse Arteta.

“New faces, they bring new excitement, new energy as well,” he said.

“We signed very important players as well. I think everybody feels that the heights have to go to different level and it’s what we are seeking.”

Madueke is another one who gives Arsenal exactly what they need. In a year, the petition and social media slams will look foolish.