Why Arsenal want to sign Noni Madueke from Chelsea | OneFootball

According to The Athletic’s transfer magician David Ornstein, Madueke has agreed to personal terms with Arsenal, although Mikel Arteta’s side are yet to make an offer to Chelsea, and it remains to be seen how much they will demand for his sale.

Arsenal have been looking to sign a couple of new forwards this summer as they seek to end their frustrating five-year trophy drought, but unlike their top-four rivals, they’re yet to make any significant headway in the transfer window.

Now they’re looking to sign the 23-year-old, here is why we believe it would be a good deal for the Gunners.

Cover/competition for Bukayo Saka

Since breaking into the first team in 2019, Saka has had a free run at the right-wing position, with no significant competition standing in his way, and rightly so, Arsenal’s ‘Star Boy’ has proven to be one of the best forwards in the Premier League.

Last season, however, we were starting to see some worrying signs regarding his fitness. Saka picked up a serious hamstring injury in the 5-1 win over Crystal Palace just before Christmas and missed 19 games for club and country as a result.

That period marked a significant drop in Arsenal’s attacking output, allowing Liverpool to pull away and ultimately win the title. Madueke, although admittedly not as productive as Saka, would provide high-level Premier League experience in the final third, something they’ve been crying out for.

Let’s not forget that Madueke is also an England international; he’s not someone who’s going to want to play second fiddle. In football, competition for places usually helps bring the best out of players. Saka may well find another gear knowing he has someone on his heels.

Still young with a high ceiling

Madueke has often found himself on the receiving end of some bad luck at Chelsea. Cole Palmer’s emergence relegated him to more of a bench player during his first season in West London, with Mauricio Pochettino giving Palmer the freedom to play from the right and drift inside.

Last season wasn’t that different. Madueke got over 1000 Premier League minutes more under Maresca than he did under Poch, and by the end of the season, new boy Pedro Neto appeared to be the preferred option on the right, forcing Madueke out onto the left wing, a less familiar position.

He did well there, but not well enough to really make the position his own. Madueke is a right-winger; he loves to cut inside with pace and take on a defender or get a shot away. If he can get consistent playing time in that position, he’s still young enough to develop into one of the best in the Premier League.

He knows the lads

It may sound simple, but coming into a squad where a player already knows a significant number of his new teammates makes a huge difference. Madueke is understood to be close with Declan Rice and will know the likes of Saka and Myles Lewis-Skelly well from his time with the England camp.

That familiarity eases any potential anxiety surrounding the move. Arsenal’s club culture isn’t too different from Chelsea’s; both clubs are massive and used to winning the biggest games on the biggest stage.

With that kind of pressure relieved, he has more freedom to go out there and do what he does best on the pitch.

Verdict

It feels like this one could be a move that suits all parties. Arsenal get a dynamic new winger to help bolster an attack that seemed to stagnate, Chelsea get one of their 63 forwards off their books for what will likely be a significant fee, and Madueke joins an elite club while staying in London.

Ultimately, we reckon Madueke to Arsenal is a good piece of business.

Get Football | Alex Roberts