Madueke’s fire and belief reveal he is far more than a “finisher”
Noni Madueke may still be waiting for a regular starting spot at Arsenal, but his decisive strike against Nottingham Forest highlighted why Mikel Arteta counts him among the squad’s valued “finishers”. The England winger found the net in the second half, securing a 1‑0 victory and three crucial points as the Gunners continue their defence of the Premier League title.
This season Madueke has started only one league match – the 2‑1 win over Leeds United eight days before the Forest encounter. Arsenal’s summer transfer window was dominated by the hunt for a top‑level forward, particularly for the left wing. After failed attempts to sign stars such as Vinícius Júnior and Julián Álvarez, the only new signing for that role was Christos Tzolis, brought in to replace the departing Leandro Trossard. Tzolis began the campaign in good form and earned the position of first‑choice left winger, leaving Madueke and Eberechi Eze to spend most of their time on the bench or in the Carabao Cup.
Tzolis’ recent hamstring injury, suffered while representing Greece, opened a door for Madueke to demonstrate to Arteta that he can offer more than a late‑game impact. After a solid performance in his start against Leeds – a display Arteta praised as the best at the club during the international break – the manager said the winger “grabbed it with both hands”. Madueke also featured on the right flank, his preferred side, in a Champions League win over Lille, where he supplied the opening goal.
Against Forest, Arteta brought Madueke on at half‑time. The winger said he kept the manager’s instructions in mind: “Hang in there, stick to the gameplan, go out there and try to attack the opposition, be dangerous, be yourself and be good defensively as well.” In the 80th minute he took on defender Daniel Muñoz, cut inside onto his weaker right foot and fired a deflected shot that beat the keeper. “I’d beaten him on the outside a couple of times so I thought I’d come inside and just let rip,” he explained.
Support for Madueke has not always been unanimous. A “No to Madueke” petition surfaced when he arrived from Chelsea, and his performances have at times been labelled inconsistent. Yet since his £48.5 million move, he has contributed to Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 22 years and played a part in the club’s run to the Champions League final. Last season he recorded eight goals and four assists in 43 appearances across all competitions, though doubts about his end product linger.
Arteta has repeatedly highlighted the importance of his bench players, referring to them as “finishers”. He believes this mindset is paying off: since the start of the previous season, Arsenal’s substitutes have supplied 26 Premier League goals, more than any other side. Contributions from the bench have included Bruno Guimarães’ winner against Leeds, and key roles for Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and captain Martin Ødegaard in the victory over Lille.
The manager is not worried about an over‑reliance on substitutes. “We have played 11 competitive matches and we won 10,” Arteta said. “We are getting a variety of ways to win in many different contexts.” He expected few chances against a well‑organized Forest at the City Ground but trusted that a dip in physical intensity would create space. When the game opened up, the “finishers” stepped up.
Arteta also praised Madueke’s character, noting that teammates would turn to him if they needed help. “He is a special guy, very much loved in and around the dressing room,” the manager said. “After the break he is showing another level of anger, another level of conviction, and he is becoming decisive in matches, which is what we expect from a player like him.” The 24‑year‑old now enjoys a run of three strong performances and continues to feature mainly on the right wing, where Arsenal currently need his contributions.