However, the development baffles ex-Liverpool and West Ham midfielder Don Hutchison. The 54-year-old, who also won 26 caps for Scotland, has questioned how much Madueke will play under Mikel Arteta.
“I don’t understand this transfer,” he told bestbettingsites.com. “From an Arsenal point of view, he plays where Bukayo Saka does, so it’ll be tough for him to get games.”
He also believes signing Madueke would cast doubt on Ethan Nwaneri's future. The teenage forward made 37 club appearances last year in what proved a breakthrough this season and has two years left on his current deal.
“The competition, of course, makes sense, especially if Saka is injured, but they have Ethan Nwaneri,” added Hutchison. “His contract is running down now, and I’d have been tempted to use money earmarked for Madueke to get a deal done for Nwaneri instead.”
Arsenal have regularly raided Chelsea for key players in recent years, with Kai Havertz and Kepa Arrizabalaga already on their books, as was Jorginho before he left for Flamengo this summer. However, Hutchison warned of another recent example who struggled in North London.
“Spending £50 million on Madeuke, who hasn’t been brilliant for Chelsea, is strange,” he added. “The Raheem Sterling deal definitely didn’t work, and you worry if this is another player coming from Stamford Bridge to sit on the bench.”