Noni Madueke will face his former club Chelsea for the first time since his summer transfer to Arsenal as Mikel Arteta addresses the backlash the Gunners received
Mikel Arteta has disclosed that the online petition opposing Arsenal’s summer pursuit of Noni Madueke only strengthened his resolve to secure the former Chelsea winger’s services.
Madueke is set for his maiden return to Stamford Bridge on Sunday following his cross-London transfer, with a frosty welcome anticipated for the 23-year-old.
The England forward initially faced resistance from Arsenal supporters in July when the transfer was first mooted, as #NoToMadueke gained traction on social media and prompted an online petition that attracted 4,000 signatures – but this only reinforced Arteta’s determination.
“If anything it gave me more conviction and more will to help him,” Arteta said. “And do everything we possibly could to make his relationship work and to prepare everything around him in the best possible way.
“I think that lasted a short period of time and immediately we had complete the opposite reaction which I think he valued, respected and it was like fuel to him. it did not affect him.”
The London-born attacker marked his comeback from a knee injury with a substitute appearance in the 4-1 triumph over Tottenham on Sunday before netting his maiden goal for Arsenal on Wednesday during the Champions League victory against Bayern Munich.
Madueke’s blistering August form immediately silenced critics, but Arteta was delighted with the versatile winger’s midweek display and may hand him a starting berth at Chelsea. Arteta added: “I am very pleased with him since the day that he came with his attitude and what he has brought to the team.
“He has brought another type of threat with his capacity to play on the right and the left and his skillset is different to what we had. We saw that again on Wednesday. He started in one position and changed into another position and being very, very efficient. It is great to have him back.”
Arsenal will look to cap off an outstanding week with three points at Chelsea, which would establish a nine-point advantage over the west London outfit. Following the Gunners’ return from the November international break with a demolition of north London rivals Tottenham and subsequently halting Bayern Munich’s perfect record this campaign, the next emphatic victory in their sights comes at Stamford Bridge.
“Those are statements we are talking about every three days,” Arteta highlighted. So, after beating Spurs at home, then we had to make the statement again Bayern Munich. We’ve done that and now we have to go to the next one. That’s where we are.
“We know the importance of the week. Not only that, what is coming after three days is going to be exactly the same. Nothing is going to change, but we are super motivated for the game.”
