Sport

Depth or Difference-Maker? Assessing Arsenal’s Pursuit of Noni Madueke

For two clubs with a rivalry so deep, Arsenal and Chelsea have exchanged a lot of players in recent times. Indeed, Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz, Jorginho, Willian, David Luiz and Olivier Giroud have all swapped one London club for the other with Kepa Arrizabalaga another player to go between the two teams, joining the Gunners from the Blues.

 

Noni Madueke could be next to add his name to this list with Arsenal reportedly keen on landing the Chelsea winger this summer. The Emirates Stadium club have apparently agreed personal terms with the 23-year-old who could be squeezed out by some of the recent signings made by Chelsea in the transfer window.

 

Madueke has potential. He grew into a first team figure for Chelsea last season, featuring in 32 Premier League games and scoring seven goals in the process. It could be argued that Chelsea are taking a gamble by judging Jamie Gittens to be a better bet than a player who is already proven at the top level of the English game.

 

Would Madueke, however, be the winger that Arsenal need to take the next step? Is the 23-year-old truly the player the Gunners should be targeting to make their dream of winning the Premier League title for the first time since the days of Arsene Wenger a reality? They too would be taking a gamble by signing him.

 

It’s unsurprising that Arsenal want to upgrade their attacking line this summer after a lack of firepower and creativity in the final third cost them last season. Had Mikel Arteta had more attacking options available to him, the Gunners might have sustained a more serious title challenge.

 

Many supporters believe Arsenal need a new number nine, and it appears the North London club will sign a player of this mould this summer with Viktor Gyokeres believed to be in advanced talks over a transfer. Benjamin Sesko has also been mentioned as a target. Arsenal are seemingly closer than ever to landing a starting centre forward.

 

The Gunners also require a more reliable difference-maker on the wings, but it appeared most likely that they would move for a left winger over a right winger which makes their interest in Madueke somewhat surprising. As good as the 23-year-old is, he would be behind Bukayo Saka in the pecking order for his favoured position.

 

This is why Arsenal were linked with Nico Williams before the Spain international signed a new 10-year contract to stay at Athletic Club, also spurning the interest of Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Williams is the sort of player who would have elevated the Gunners’ attacking quality in a position where Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have both struggled when it has mattered most.

 

Madueke would give Arsenal greater depth and would allow Arteta to rest Saka more frequently over the course of the season, but the £50m Chelsea reportedly want for the England international could be put to better use. Rather than looking to add depth to their squad, Arsenal should be aiming to strengthen their starting XI.

 

Of course, there’s still two months of the summer transfer window remaining and it’s possible Arsenal have a masterplan that will become apparent over that time. They have already signed Martin Zubimendi and are expected to add Gyokeres in the coming weeks. Madueke might be the first of more than one winger to pitch up at the Emirates Stadium this summer.

 

If, however, Madueke is the only wide difference-maker Arsenal want, he must find a distinct role for himself beyond being the back-up to Saka. The Gunners need someone to push them closer to the top of the Premier League table. They don’t need someone to rotate into the lineup in the FA Cup.