Why Arsenal fans don’t want Noni Madueke and the alarming data that will worry them

Arsenal’s search for another wide option this summer has led them Chelsea’s Noni Madueke.

While signing a striker remains a top priority, Mikel Arteta is eager for the club to bring in a winger who can operate down the left and provide cover for Bukayo Saka on the right.

Interest in Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo remains and represents the sort of ambition Arsenal fans have demanded this summer after finishing second in the Premier League title race three seasons on the bounce.

But Madueke’s potential arrival in north London has left many associated with the club feeling somewhat cold.

The Gunners have agreed personal terms with the 23-year-old, who has continued to play for Chelsea during their Club World Cup campaign in the United States despite the uncertainty over his future.

An asking price of £50million would represent a sizeable outlay – one supporters have shared serious reservations about.

Despite concerns, a move appears to be inching ever closer.

Signed from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, Madueke stepped into the spotlight last season under Enzo Maresca and firmly established himself as the club’s first choice option on the right.

Starting 27 of Chelsea’s 38 league matches, he ended the campaign with a healthy return of 10 Premier League goal involvements – seven goals and three assists.

Putting aside the price tag for one moment, Madueke could represent a reasonable option to come in and provide cover for Saka. The Arsenal star’s relentless form over the last five seasons has perhaps masked the need for further reinforcements but the visible scarring left on his right leg after hamstring surgery serves as a clear reminder that greater care should be taken next season.

But it is suggestions that Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta view Madueke as the solution to improve their threat down the left ahead of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard that is sparking the most concern.

Madueke’s alarming contribution on the left

In all competitions last season, Madueke registered 11 goals and five assists, scoring four in the Europa Conference League in addition to his seven in the Premier League. All of his goal contributions came while playing on the right. Seven appearances on the left drew a blank.

It is not a new trend. Delving back into Madueke career statistics reveals an alarming detail. According to Transfermarkt, across his club career at Chelsea and PSV, including appearances for the Dutch club’s various youth sides, Madueke’s contribution from the left stands at a grand total of two assists and one goal.

Looking exclusively at Premier League data from last season, Madueke attempted 63 crosses into the box – 11 of which were successful. Not one attempt from the left side of the pitch found its attempted target.

While rather damning, that should come as no great surprise. For most of last season and almost his entire professional career, Madueke has operated as a right winger. 84 per cent of Madueke’s Premier League football in the 2024-25 campaign came on the right. It is there where he poses most danger with only four players averaging more shots per 90 than him in the Premier League last season.

Jadon Sancho, Pedro Neto, Mykhailo Mudryk, Christopher Nkunku and even Raheem Sterling, shipped out to Arsenal last season, have featured more often on the left than Madueke over the last two years. So where does the idea he can effectively operate on that side of the pitch come from?

Reason for optimism? How he has performed there for Chelsea

Madueke started on the left in a run of four Premier League games towards the end of last season, a pivotal juncture where the Blues were still scrapping for Champions League qualification. He also started from the left in the Europa Conference League final against Real Betis.

Chelsea won three of those four games and in the victory over newly-crowned champions Liverpool, Madueke looked a threat down the left, completing more dribbles (four) than any other player.  

There were also bright moments against Everton, again completing the most dribbles (four) while winning the most duels (nine). In addition to the Europa Conference League final, Madueke has also made two appearances on the left for Chelsea in the Club World Cup – making it a record of six wins in seven when he has featured in that role with the only defeat coming at Newcastle where he was sacrificed at half-time following Nicolas Jackson’s red card.

It is a small sample size and there is some reason for optimism but the headline numbers – no goal contributions, no successful crosses – do not make for promising reading.

Madueke to Arsenal presents two scenarios. Either the player is so confident in his abilities that he can see himself keeping Saka out of the team. Or, the player is open to the challenge of completely changing his game and starring on the left in Arsenal colours.

The second scenario also raises the question, does he represent a significant upgrade on Martinelli or Trossard?

The alternative options – why aren’t Arsenal signing Rodrygo?

Ask any Arsenal fan and you will likely find Rodrygo top of their summer wishlist. It appears increasingly likely the Brazil international will be available this summer, benched for Real’s last five games in the Club World Cup despite new head coach Xabi Alonso attempting to ease concerns over his future.

Like Madueke, Rodrygo has found himself deployed on the right but the Brazilian is most at home on the left where he can cut inside and cause havoc. Six of his 14 goals (along with six assists) were scored when starting from the left during the 2024-25 campaign – with that haul coming in just 12 appearances in that position.

Anthony Gordon has also been named among the club’s targets and is another natural option on the left.

Of the three, Madueke could represent the most affordable option. But it could be one that creates more problems than solutions for Arteta.