Arsenal: Noni Madueke primed for key role in bringing Mikel Arteta's new plan to life | OneFootball

The £52m summer signing can unlock new options in the Gunners attack

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Even in a stadium of 60,000 fans, Noni Madueke’s mind is clear and he has just one thought in his head.

There have been flashes of that intent in Madueke’s early appearances as the 23-year-old gets up to speed at his new club.

Madueke joined Arsenal in the middle of July, but he was due a break after playing for Chelsea at the Club World Cup earlier this summer.

The winger was eager to get going straight away, but Arsenal advised him that a holiday would be best in the long run.

Team: Noni Madueke in training on Friday

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Madueke had around 10 days off and then began training on his own, so that he was up to speed when team training began at Arsenal’s training ground on August 4.

The 23-year-old has so far made appearances off the bench, but a first start is surely not far away and could come today against Leeds.

These are the games that Arsenal signed Madueke for, because Mikel Arteta’s side routinely struggled last season to break down teams that sat deep.

It is hoped that Madueke can help solve that issue, as data shows that he is an effective dribbler.

Last season in the Premier League, he finished joint first for progressive carries – which Opta define as moving with the ball at least five metres towards the opposition’s goal – per 90 minutes.

His total distance of progressive carries was just over 3,000 metres. Arsenal’s best-performing winger in this category was Gabriel Martinelli, with a total of just under 2,500 metres.

Madueke also topped the Premier League last season for carries ending in a shot, with 1.6 per 90 minutes, and only four players averaged more shots per 90 minutes than him.

Bringing different profiles onto the pitch at different stages in the game is something we’re going to have this season

Mikel Arteta

When trying to open up a deep and stubborn defence, a player with Madueke’s dribbling ability could be valuable and make all the difference.

“Any creative player who can unlock situations from tight positions, creating that uncertainty, more attention as well in and around the ball, is going to create space in other places,” said Arteta.

“Having more creativity, more weapons, having the ability to bring different profiles onto the pitch at different stages in the game is something that, for sure, we’re going to have this season, and that’s great.”

Arsenal signed Madueke as they believe he can provide competition on both flanks, but the 23-year-old has played on the left so far.

It has given Arsenal the new weapon of a natural left-footer playing on the flank, which helps stretch the opposing defence.

Madueke, in his early appearances, has hugged the touchline – and that creates space inside for whoever is playing left-back.

When trying to open up a deep defence, that extra width could be crucial and it provides Arsenal with another dimension to their attack.

Opportunity: Noni Madueke is set for his first Emirates minutes

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“I try and be a dual threat from the left and from the right,” says Madueke. “Of course, it’s a little different when I play on the left or when I play on the right. But, yeah, I try to be a threat on both sides and it doesn’t really matter to me where I play.”

Arsenal held an open training session on Wednesday at Emirates Stadium and it finished with a practice match.

Bukayo Saka and Madueke were the wingers on one of the teams and, intriguingly, they rotated during the course of the game.

Saka on the left is a rare sight, but he performed well in the game and assisted Leandro Trossard for a goal.

It is, perhaps, something Arteta may use going forward as Madueke’s versatility allows him to swap wings.

If unpredictability is Arteta’s goal this season, Madueke could be the player to deliver it.