Arsenal - Noni Madueke
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal winger Noni Madueke has his private coach, Saul Isaksson-Hurst, jumping to his defence after criticism over his early performances at the club. Speaking totalkSPORT, Isaksson-Hurst insisted that Madueke isn’t at Arsenal to play second fiddle, his ceiling, he believes, is unlimited.
Madueke joined Arsenal from Chelsea in a high-profile transfer roughly worth £52 million, setting expectations sky-high even before he’d kicked a ball in North London. Because of that price tag, and a mixed start at club level without goals or assists, some fans and pundits have questioned whether he can deliver immediately.
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His brightest moment so far came on the international stage, however. Madueke scored his first England goal during a 5-0 win over Serbia in World Cup qualifying, an outing that earned him praise and helped quiet some early doubters.
Noni Madueke
Noni Madueke (Image credit: Getty Images)
Saul Isaksson-Hurst didn’t hold back. He said Madueke has been unfairly criticised for being “predictable” by some, but that those critics don’t see what happens off the ball: the training, the finishing work, the constant strive for improvement.
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“He’s great against low blocks because he’s great in 1v1 and 1v2 situations, but he has that explosiveness and directness to get beyond with and without the ball… the skill to finish moving at that full pace with that control is top quality.”
Isaksson-Hurst emphasised that Madueke is not at Arsenal just to fill in, or wait in the wings. “He works so hard … very committed, very channelled, very focused to be one of the best players in the world,” the coach said.
Madueke’s early performances for Arsenal might not yet fully reflect his potential in terms of assists or goals. But his display in England colours, combined with Isaksson-Hurst’s confidence, suggests that the winger may soon force his way into more consistent starting roles at both club and country.
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