Assessing Noni Madueke’s Value: Arsenal’s Pursuit of Another Chelsea Star

€40 million market value

This summer, a potential transfer that may stir considerable debate is the possible move involving Chelsea and Arsenal yet again. The Gunners have made significant acquisitions from their west London counterparts over the years, including goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga this summer. Recent reports indicate that Mikel Arteta’s squad is close to finalizing a deal for Chelsea winger Noni Madueke. According to The Athletic, Madueke has reportedly accepted personal terms with Arsenal, and transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has stated that the Gunners have put forth an initial bid of approximately €60 million, including add-ons.

At first glance, this transfer may seem puzzling. Out of 92 appearances for Chelsea, Madueke played 83 matches as a right-winger. In the seven games he started as a left-winger last season, he did not register a goal or an assist. This position at Arsenal is currently held by Bukayo Saka, who is one of the team’s standout players. If healthy, Saka is expected to start in the majority of matches, making the potential €60 million investment in Madueke appear risky given the limited playing time.

Some analysts propose that Madueke could be signed to bolster options on both wings, providing competition for Gabriel Martinelli on the left and serving as backup for Saka on the right. If this is the case, Arsenal might forgo pursuing another left-winger like Real Madrid’s Rodrygo. However, the real question remains: have Madueke’s performances in the Premier League justified such a significant fee, regardless of his position? Additionally, what implications would this have for Arsenal’s squad and their summer transfer strategy?

Noni Madueke’s Lackluster Tenure at Chelsea

Madueke joined Chelsea from PSV in January 2023 for €35 million. At PSV, he impressed with 20 goals and 13 assists in 80 appearances. Since moving to Stamford Bridge, he has displayed flashes of top talent, notably scoring a hat-trick against Wolves early in the previous season. Nevertheless, his inconsistency has been apparent. During his time at Chelsea, Madueke has started just 47 out of a potential 95 Premier League matches, contributing only 20 goals (13 goals and 7 assists).

The statistics show that Madueke ranks 30th among wingers in terms of goal contributions in the Premier League during this period and is positioned 74th overall, figures that hardly justify Arsenal considering paying nearly double what Chelsea invested two years prior. Of note, he has earned seven caps for the England national team and appears to be held in high regard by new manager Thomas Tuchel. It’s worth highlighting that previous Arsenal signings like David Raya and Martin Ødegaard faced skepticism but ultimately proved to be wise investments.

Another concern could be regarding Madueke’s attitude. While it’s challenging to assess a player’s mindset from the outside, past incidents raise some flags. For example, he attempted to take a penalty from regular taker Cole Palmer in the 2023/24 season, leading to a confrontation between teammates, which does not reflect well. Furthermore, Chelsea’s manager Enzo Maresca benched Madueke for a match against Aston Villa, citing his lack of effort in training as the reason. Such an attitude would likely be unacceptable to Arteta, who maintains high standards at Arsenal.

Reports indicate that Madueke is eager for the move to the Emirates, but if he finds himself frequently on the bench, questions will arise about whether he can maintain the motivation to regain his spot in the lineup. Arteta has instilled a strong culture at the club, with clear expectations for conduct on and off the field. Arsenal even parted ways with former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang primarily due to behavioral issues.

Another potential hurdle for this transfer is its impact on the young prospect Ethan Nwaneri. While many anticipate that Nwaneri will eventually transition into a central role, having him as a backup to Saka on the right could have provided him with more playing time, which might be diminished if Madueke arrives. There’s no doubt that Madueke is a skilled player who could add depth and competition to Arsenal. However, there are several other pressing matters within the squad, prompting skepticism regarding this signing. Should the deal be finalized, both Madueke and Arteta will aim to prove the doubters wrong.