One of the biggest signings of the ongoing summer transfer window has been Noni Madueke’s move from Chelsea to Arsenal. The 22-year-old winger was impressive during his stint with the Blues after joining them in 2023, but has recently completed a switch to the fellow London club on a five-year deal.
Madueke scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 46 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea during the 2023-24 season and played a vital role in their success in the recently concluded FIFA Club World Cup.
Arsenal appeared to be very interested in his services and swooped in to sign him as soon as the opportunity arose. Manager Mikel Arteta, who has faced significant criticism from fans for not winning any silverware during his tenure, seems determined to change things around in the upcoming season. Acquiring Madueke from their cross-town rivals is one of their most ambitious moves toward that goal. The England international is expected to add pace to Arsenal’s already-expansive wings and support superstar Bukayo Saka in his efforts.
Madueke played U18 soccer for another London club, Tottenham Hotspur, before moving to PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands. He progressed through their youth system before making his senior debut in the Eredivisie during the 2019-20 season.
After playing 80 matches across all competitions for the Dutch side and scoring 20 goals, he was acquired by Chelsea in the January 2023 transfer window. For the Blues, he scored the same number of goals (20) in 92 appearances across all competitions.
What Will Noni Madueke Bring to the Table for Arsenal?
At Arsenal, Madueke is expected to line up alongside Saka, who will likely operate from the right wing. While Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli remain part of the Gunners‘ squad, Noni appears to be the favorite to don the left-winger’s position.
Madueke and Saka are expected to form a long-lasting partnership, given that the two are only 22 and 23 years old, respectively. Both these players are blessed with raw pace as well as the ability to find the back of the net from various angles. Most importantly, they’ve consistently demonstrated a work rate that goes beyond the call of duty on most occasions.
Although Madueke has been signed to complement Saka in offense, that won’t probably be his only responsibility. One of the most intriguing aspects of the winger’s game is his tendency to cut back inside when operating in the final third and trouble opposition defenders in one-on-one situations. While much of his confidence and boldness can be attributed to his relative youth, it also stems from the countless hours of preparation he puts in behind the scenes, when no one is watching.
Noni Madueke’s Impressive Numbers in the 2024-25 EPL Season
During the 2024-25 Premier League season, he scored seven goals and posted 9.64 xG (expected goals) and 8.68 xGOT (expected goals on target), both of which are extremely impressive numbers. Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca must have been particularly pleased with Madueke’s attacking intent, as the player took a whopping 80 shots in total in the league, 32 of which were on target.
However, his numbers fell behind when it came to assisting his teammates. He provided just three assists throughout the entire season and had a rather poor cross accuracy of 17.5%. That said, his overall passing game was strong – he completed 83.6% of his passes and delivered long balls at a 65% success rate. It’s easy to see why Arsenal viewed him as a good fit.
Arteta emphasizes the importance of creating fast breaks, which come through short and accurate passes in midfield. Whenever their opponents have the ball, Arsenal fall back into a defensive shape, with even their attackers making defensive runs and closely marking their opposition’s numbers. However, when they regain possession, the team are known to be lightning quick on the counterattack, and this is where Madueke is expected to come in to assist Saka. Moreover, the youngster is renowned for his technique when receiving long balls from deep midfield or defense, and this can go a long way in helping him set up his teammates or creating overlaps for attacking moves.
Madueke has a bright future, having already won seven caps for the England national team. His next goal will likely be to get on the scoresheet for the Three Lions, although not before he helps his new team, Arsenal, achieve the targets they’ve set for him.
His willingness to play on both flanks will come in handy when Arteta asks him and Saka to switch their positions or even overload one of the flanks in order to create space. Madueke has also been known to play in an inverted winger’s position, and his versatility has a lot to do with why Arsenal chose to sign him. Overall, it seems like a fantastic decision by the Gunners to bring him on board.
