Arsenal legend Paul Merson does not seem to be too impressed with his former club’s decision to sign Noni Madueke from Chelsea.
Madueke is closing in on a move to Arsenal after the Gunners reached an agreement with their London rivals to purchase the winger last week.
With a switch to north London imminent, Madueke missed Chelsea‘s Club World Cup triumph in America.
It has been reported that Chelsea players have joked about Arsenal following their Club World Cup success, saying that Madueke can show them his winners’ medal when he arrives at the Emirates.
Noni Madueke reacts to a missed shot during Esperance de Tunis v Chelsea FC: Group D - FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Photo by Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Paul Merson on Noni Madueke’s lack of goals and inconsistency at Chelsea
Last season, Madueke scored seven goals in 32 Premier League appearances for Chelsea.
For Merson, that is clearly not enough and the 57-year-old has now questioned Arsenal’s decision to go after him. Ultimately, he thinks Madueke’s game lacks both goals and overall consistency.
In his column for Sky Sports, he said: “I am flabbergasted by Arsenal signing Noni Madueke. I’m shocked. If Arsenal went and bought any player from Chelsea, he’d have been the last one I thought they’d sign.
“I just don’t see it. It’s a lot of money for a player who is not a prolific goalscorer. He’s the sort of player that has a good game here and a good game there, but that’ll be it. The consistency of performance isn’t there.”
MORE CHELSEA STORIES
Madueke’s decision to depart Stamford Bridge comes after Chelsea’s acquisition of Jamie Gittens.
Chelsea were really keen to sign Gittens and managed to land him in the end after some tough negotiations with Borussia Dortmund.
Madueke is a right winger but had been playing on the left, Gittens’ preferred position.
Paul Merson during Tottenham vs Arsenal match
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Paul Merson makes interesting Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho claim
Madueke is not the only winger Chelsea have decided to get rid of. The Blues, of course, sent Jadon Sancho back to Manchester United before they jetted off to America for the Club World Cup.
Out of the two, Merson seems to prefer Sancho, claiming that he would have started him over Madueke at every opportunity last term.
In the same Sky Sports column, Merson said: “For me, at Chelsea, I’d have always played Jadon Sancho ahead of him. It’s not to be disrespectful to the player but I am flabbergasted by the money Arsenal are paying for him.”
Enzo Maresca will now go into the 2025/26 season without either of them. Instead, Gittens, Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian will be his wide options, while Joao Pedro can also play on the left.
After the impact that the Brazilian has made up front, though, the Chelsea manager may want to keep him there.