There’s no doubt about Madueke after his showstopping debut performance at the Emirates Stadium. With the most attacks and chances created, he brought the heat all the way to the stoppage time.
But this was not the case for Noni in late July when Arsenal announced his move from Chelsea.
Madueke Signing & Criticism
Let’s take it back to late July. More specifically, the 18th of July 2025. Noni Madueke, officially an Arsenal player. The reception, however, was quite mixed, and soon fans made their feelings clear when the hashtag #NoToMadueke began trending, gaining over 5000 signatures. Murals were defaced to express he was not welcome in North London. Whilst most might glance over it as ‘fans being unhappy’, the truth is, it was plain bullying and mocking.
Madueke Performance
Despite the criticism and cold welcome, Madueke let his football do the talking. That is exactly what we saw from him in his debut home game with Nottingham Forest. Making the right wing his home, he put the pressure on Forest’s defence with the most dribbles, chances, and touches created by the main man himself. Although Murillo gave Madueke a challenge and achieved a couple of blocks, the fateful corner came for Madueke to take. And did he lead the corner for Zubimendi’s opening goal, a volley that the Emirates had not seen in some time.
The sharpness and tactical awareness developed as the game went on, and paid off as Arteta kept him on full time with 2 more goals in Forest’s net.
Stoppage time did not only put the game to an end, but silenced the critics and haters.
The post match press conference also saw Arteta naming Noni as someone with ‘a lot of courage’ when asked about his continuous runs. And this courage extends beyond Madueke’s performance. It takes courage to go above the hateful criticism he faced. It takes courage to deliver exceptional performance, and courage to do it all on his home game debut.
Madueke’s Upcoming Matches
Madueke played the full 90 minutes highlighting the importance he contributes on the right flank. It also showcases Atreta’s faith in him to play for the full game. Whilst Noni is not covering any particular missing players of the squad, his sharp attacks have definitely bridged the gap that the club lacked in last season. His developing chemistry with Gyökeres has certainly kept the strength of the frontline up, and with the upcoming matches, it is very likely to see him in the starting 11.
His ability to press consistently allows for a high tempo attack for the full match especially with Saka unavailable and the Champions League underway this coming week, Arsenal will need consistent performances.
Madueke Redemption
Madueke’s performance has sparked a wave of redemption among fans. With comments like, ‘Madueke is making me and a lot of Arsenal fans eat our words’, and ‘I thought he was a flop at Chelsea’, these sentiments have been echoed across social media, reflecting a broader shift in opinion. This change highlights the importance of being patient with players like Madueke, and letting their performance speak for itself. And his future at Arsenal can be received with more optimism.
