Arsenal are reportedly close to signing winger Noni Madueke from city rivals Chelsea. The deal is likely to cost the Gunners £52 million.
However, for the first time in the club’s history, fans have signed a petition against signing a player, with fans against the club going for the English winger. According to those fans, Madueke will be a backup player for Arsenal, and it makes little sense to spend that much money on one.
Noni Madueke Has Grown in Stature at Chelsea
Madueke has spent three seasons at Chelsea, scoring 20 goals in 92 matches for the Royal Blues. His goal-scoring ratio per game is pretty much similar to that of Gabriel Martinelli, who has scored 51 goals in 225 matches for the Gunners.
Moreover, Madueke is an England international and has earned seven caps for the Three Lions so far. Signing an England international can never be a step backwards and will bring about healthy competition on the side.
One can have a look at Chelsea themselves, who had Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho, Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku, Joao Felix and Madueke last season, each of whom was capable of playing on the flanks.
While not every club should follow Chelsea’s example in terms of signing players, it is understandable to have a backup option in a playing position. Hence, the Arsenal management might not be wrong in going for another option on the flanks.
Fans, however, might have a point in comparing Madueke’s stature as a player to that of the other two players linked with Arsenal – Rodrygo and Eberechi Eze.
Rodrygo has won every possible title with Real Madrid and is a world-class player. Eze is an England international and has a better profile as an England player than Madueke.
Hence, signing either Rodrygo or Eze seems to be a better decision at the moment. Still, if the Gunners are unable to secure the services of the two aforementioned players, then signing Madueke is not exactly a bad idea.
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How Can Madueke Feature in the Starting XI for Arsenal?
Madueke is more comfortable playing on the right, and Arsenal have their star player, Bukayo Saka playing there. As long as Saka is fit, he will always get the preference over anyone else in the Gunners’ squad.
Hence, if Madueke is signed by Arsenal, he will directly compete with Martinelli for a place in the starting XI.
Martinelli has been decent as a left-winger for six seasons for the North Londoners now. Replacing him in the playing XI will not be an easy job, but Madueke will fancy his chances of doing so.
Arsenal have another back-up option in the midfield in the form of Leandro Trossard, who was signed for £28 million a few years ago. If we compare Madueke’s prospective signing amount to that of Trossard, it is definitely higher.
However, it has to be remembered that Madueke comes from an elite club like Chelsea, and Trossard was only signed from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Hence, the Gunners’ fans might not be entirely justified in making a formal protest against Madueke’s signing. The 23-year-old winger, if signed, might prove to be a quality addition to the Gunners’ squad.
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Credit: IMAGO / Action Plus
Recording Date: 08.07.2025