Arsenal’s search for one more wide option this summer has led them Chelsea’s Noni Madueke.
While signing a striker stays a top priority, Mikel Arteta is anticipating the club to herald a winger who can operate down the left and supply cover for Bukayo Saka on the best.
Interest in Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo stays and represents the kind of ambition Arsenal fans have demanded this summer after ending second within the Premier League title race three seasons on the bounce.
But Madueke’s potential arrival in north London has left many related to the club feeling somewhat cold.
The Gunners have agreed personal terms with the 23-year-old, who has continued to play for Chelsea during their Club World Cup campaign in the USA despite the uncertainty over his future.
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An asking price of £50million would represent a sizeable outlay – one supporters have shared serious reservations about.
Despite concerns, a move appears to be inching ever closer.
Signed from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, Madueke stepped into the highlight last season under Enzo Maresca and firmly established himself because the club’s first selection option on the best.
Starting 27 of Chelsea’s 38 league matches, he ended the campaign with a healthy return of 10 Premier League goal involvements – seven goals and three assists.
Putting aside the worth tag for one moment, Madueke could represent an affordable choice to are available and supply cover for Saka. The Arsenal star’s relentless form during the last five seasons has perhaps masked the necessity for further reinforcements however the visible scarring left on his right leg after hamstring surgery serves as a transparent reminder that greater care must be taken next season.
But it surely is suggestions that Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta view Madueke as the answer to enhance their threat down the left ahead of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard that’s sparking essentially the most concern.
Madueke’s alarming contribution on the left
In all competitions last season, Madueke registered 11 goals and five assists, scoring 4 within the Europa Conference League along with his seven within the Premier League. All of his goal contributions got here while playing on the best. Seven appearances on the left drew a blank.
It isn’t a brand new trend. Delving back into Madueke profession statistics reveals an alarming detail. In keeping with Transfermarkt, across his club profession at Chelsea and PSV, including appearances for the Dutch club’s various youth sides, Madueke’s contribution from the left stands at a grand total of two assists and one goal.
Looking exclusively at Premier League data from last season, Madueke attempted 63 crosses into the box – 11 of which were successful. Not one attempt from the left side of the pitch found its attempted goal.
While slightly damning, that ought to come as no great surprise. For many of last season and almost his entire skilled profession, Madueke has operated for granted winger. 84 per cent of Madueke’s Premier League football within the 2024-25 campaign got here on the best. It’s there where he poses most danger with only 4 players averaging more shots per 90 than him within the Premier League last season.
Jadon Sancho, Pedro Neto, Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku and even Raheem Sterling, shipped out to Arsenal last season, have featured more often on the left than Madueke during the last two years. So where does the concept he can effectively operate on that side of the pitch come from?
Reason for optimism? How he has performed there for Chelsea
Madueke began on the left in a run of 4 Premier League games towards the tip of last season, a pivotal juncture where the Blues were still scrapping for Champions League qualification. He also began from the left within the Europa Conference League final against Real Betis.
Chelsea won three of those 4 games and within the victory over newly-crowned champions Liverpool, Madueke looked a threat down the left, completing more dribbles (4) than some other player.
There have been also brilliant moments against Everton, again completing essentially the most dribbles (4) while winning essentially the most duels (nine). Along with the Europa Conference League final, Madueke has also made two appearances on the left for Chelsea within the Club World Cup – making it a record of six wins in seven when he has featured in that role with the one defeat coming at Newcastle where he was sacrificed at half-time following Nicolas Jackson’s red card.
It’s a small sample size and there’s some reason for optimism however the headline numbers – no goal contributions, no successful crosses – don’t make for promising reading.
Madueke to Arsenal presents two scenarios. Either the player is so confident in his abilities that he can see himself keeping Saka out of the team. Or, the player is open to the challenge of completely changing his game and starring on the left in Arsenal colors.
The second scenario also raises the query, does he represent a big upgrade on Martinelli or Trossard?
The choice options – why aren’t Arsenal signing Rodrygo?
Ask any Arsenal fan and you’ll likely find Rodrygo top of their summer wishlist. It appears increasingly likely the Brazil international will probably be available this summer, benched for Real’s last five games within the Club World Cup despite latest head coach Xabi Alonso attempting to ease concerns over his future.
Like Madueke, Rodrygo has found himself deployed on the best however the Brazilian is most at home on the left where he can cut inside and cause havoc. Six of his 14 goals (together with six assists) were scored when ranging from the left through the 2024-25 campaign – with that haul coming in only 12 appearances in that position.
Anthony Gordon has also been named among the many club’s targets and is one other natural option on the left.
Of the three, Madueke could represent essentially the most inexpensive option. But it surely might be one which creates more problems than solutions for Arteta.
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