Arsenal
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Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on Noni Madueke after the winger delivered a standout display in Arsenal’s 3-0 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
With Bukayo Saka sidelined through injury, Madueke was handed a starting role on the right flank and seized his opportunity, tormenting the visitors with his direct runs and creativity. The 22-year-old, who joined from Chelsea in a £52 million deal during the summer, has quickly established himself as a key figure in Arteta’s evolving attack.
“The new ones that started, five of them today, I was really impressed with them,” Arteta said in his post-match press conference. “You can sense and feel that new relationships are flourishing. They are going to give us different things to be unpredictable. Noni – I thought he was exceptional. We played a front three that had never played together before. Overall I am very happy.”
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Madueke, however, also found himself in the spotlight after Arsenal legend Martin Keown raised concerns about his style of play during TNT Sports’ post-match coverage. Keown admitted he had initially been “worried” about the winger’s move across London, branding him “a little bit selfish” in past performances.
Noni Madueke
Noni Madueke (Image credit: Getty Images)
“I was worried about you when you came because I thought sometimes you can be a little bit selfish,” Keown told Madueke. “But now you seem to have really good balance to your play. The decisions you’ve been making have been outstanding.”
Presenter Lynsey Hipgrave lightened the exchange, urging Madueke to dismiss the criticism if he wished, while fellow pundit Peter Crouch laughed awkwardly. Madueke responded calmly, defending the self-belief required in his role.
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“I feel like it’s important to keep the self-belief that you can get the ball and just do it yourself as a winger,” Madueke said. “I think you need that. But of course, like you said, I’m playing with such top players, it’s important for me to try and find them as much as I try and play my own type of game.”
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres, who was also on the scoresheet against Forest, joined in the praise for Madueke and fellow attacker Eberechi Eze.
“Those two are amazing in their positions, they always do something special,” Gyokeres said. “We definitely saw that today.”
The result maintains Arsenal’s strong start to the season, with new arrivals already making their mark in Arteta’s reshaped squad.
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