Why did Arsenal spend £50m on Madueke?

Noni Madueke is not a bad player.

This is not only a purely professional deal, but also a divisive event in the Gunners fan community - who are tired of the series of "buy-back" deals from Stamford Bridge.

From David Luiz, Willian, Jorginho, Kai Havertz to Raheem Sterling, the list of Chelsea veterans who have played for Arsenal is getting longer, but the trust of the fans is getting shorter. So why is Mikel Arteta still determined to sign Madueke? And is this deal another costly mistake, or a calculated move towards the future?

The wave of protests - not aimed at Madueke, but at the trend

In truth, Noni Madueke is not a bad player. On the contrary, he is the modern player: fast, technical, strong in one-on-one situations, able to play well on either wing. It is a matter of context and price.

£50m for a regular Chelsea substitute is something Arsenal fans will find hard to swallow, especially when looking back at previous deals like Willian and Sterling - contracts that were deeply disappointing - fans have reason to be concerned.

Not only that, Madueke's appearance also raises concerns about the development of Ethan Nwaneri, a bright young talent from Arsenal's training academy - who is negotiating a contract extension and is also being targeted by... Chelsea.

Since joining Chelsea in early 2023, Madueke has scored 20 goals in 92 games in all competitions, including 11 in the 2024/25 season. However, in the Premier League, he has only 13 goals and 5 assists in 67 appearances - a modest return.

More importantly, in the last 11 games of the season, Madueke did not score, only had 1 assist. Since February 2025, this player has only had 3 goals and 1 assist in 21 games, mainly in the Europa Conference League - a lower level tournament.

With those stats, it's easy to doubt Arsenal's big spending on him. But the advanced data tells a different story.

Since joining Chelsea in early 2023, Madueke has scored 20 goals in 92 games in all competitions, including 11 in the 2024/25 season.

Mikel Arteta is not the type of coach to chase superficial statistics. As with Kai Havertz before, he puts his faith in the "fundamentals" - something Madueke possesses impressively.

Madueke averaged 3.52 shots per game in the Premier League last season - the highest of any Chelsea or Arsenal player. He led the Premier League in attempts from the ball - a stat that reflects his proactive and explosive approach.

Only two wingers - Savinho and Jeremy Doku - have progressed further with the ball than Madueke. The Englishman is also more effective in recovering the ball than Arsenal's two mainstays, Saka and Martinelli. Madueke is also in the top three players in the league for the most touches in the box.

These numbers suggest that Madueke is not lacking in opportunities - he just lacks the right system and a coach who knows how to maximise his potential.

In fact, Madueke’s role in the Arsenal squad will replace Raheem Sterling, who was loaned out as a back-up on the flanks but failed to make an impact. Unlike Sterling, Madueke is only 23, possesses explosive pace, good dribbling skills and can shoot with both feet – 34% of his shots last season were taken with his weaker foot.

He used to play on the right at Chelsea, but has been used more on the left wing recently - showing the versatility that Arteta values in his rotation system.

Calculated risk

This is not the first time Arteta has brought in an unfinished player and polished him to success. Kai Havertz is a prime example: he went from being ridiculed at Chelsea to becoming a key player at Arsenal. Arteta believes Madueke – with his physicality, technique and footballing mindset – can follow a similar path.

Madueke averaged 3.52 shots per game in the Premier League last season - the highest of any Chelsea or Arsenal player.

With Leandro Trossard likely to leave, squad depth is essential if Arsenal are to maintain their ambitions of competing on all four fronts. Madueke will not be an immediate starter, but he could be a tactical weapon in tight games.

The negative reaction from fans is understandable. They are used to Arsenal being “led by the nose” in Chelsea deals. But this time, things may be different.

Madueke is not a big star, but he is a potential project. In the hands of a patient, demanding and player-development coach like Arteta, he could be transformed. And if that happens, today’s £50m could become a bargain tomorrow.

Ultimately, the question is not: “Should Arsenal sign Madueke?” but: “Are they patient enough to turn him into a player worthy of that price tag?”

Because modern football is not just a story of the present - it is also an investment for the future.

Source: https://znews.vn/vi-sao-arsenal-chi-50-trieu-bang-cho-madueke-post1567718.html