Former Chelsea striker Chris Sutton believes the sale of Noni Madueke has damaged the Blues and strengthened Arsenal.
Chelsea sold Madueke to Arsenal in the summer for £52m, and the England international was one of four attackers who left the club.
The Blues completely revamped their frontline with five new signings, but despite scoring 25 goals this season, the attack has yet to really click.
Chris Sutton believes Noni Madueke sale is hurting Chelsea
The signing of Madueke wasn’t popular with Arsenal fans, but the winger has started to win supporters over with his performances.
The 23-year-old has recovered from injury, and scored twice in the 3-0 win against Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Noni Madueke completes Arsenal move.
Madueke joined Arsenal in the summer.
So far Madueke is looking like good business, and Sutton feels his departure is a “loss” for Chelsea and a really “smart” signing for the Gunners.
“More and more, Madueke looks like a really smart signing,” he told BBC’s Match of the Day.
“I already thought he was a loss to Chelsea, but you are seeing now he is back from injury that Arsenal can have Saka off that right side, or use him, it bodes really well for them with such a busy period coming up.”
Chelsea’s wingers need to step up
The Blues signed two wingers in the summer in Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens, both of who have shown glimpses.
However, the pair have struggled for consistency, and arguably Chelsea’s most effective winger has been 18-year-old Estevao.
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A generic view of Stamford Bridge in the dark.
Enzo Maresca on the touchline.
Stamford Bridge in the early evening, quite generic. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
It feels like Chelsea have taken a step back in the wide areas after developing Madueke for two and half years, and now are going to go through the same process with Gittens and Garnacho.
Pedro Neto is the senior winger at the club, but it feels like Chelsea missed a trick by not getting more proven quality in those areas in the summer.