Why Arsenal fans are so angry about signing Noni Madueke

Arsenal are on the verge of formally announcing the signing of Chelsea winger Noni Madueke after reaching a full agreement for the England international.

Mikel Arteta’s side will pay a fee of roughly €60 million for the 23-year-old and he is expected to sign a contract that will be valid until 2030 after agreeing personal terms with the Gunners.

Madueke is set to provide cover on both flanks for Arsenal, with the England star primarily being purchased to ease Bukayo Saka’s workload following an injury-hit campaign for the Gunners superstar.

However, the imminent arrival of Madueke has caused widescale anger amongst Arsenal fans on social media.

A petition slamming the transfer has been signed over 4,000 times, while #NoToMadueke has gone viral on social media. Arsenal fans have even defaced club murals with graffiti that reads: “Arteta out” in response to the move.

So, why are Arsenal fans so angry about signing Madueke?

Why Arsenal fans don’t want to sign Noni Madueke

Arsenal supporters have issued several reasons behind their discontent.

First of all, Madueke will become the eighth Chelsea player to join Arsenal over the past 10 years, with all of them deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge. Signing Chelsea rejects when they have title aspirations is seen as a poor transfer strategy by Gunners supporters.

Arsenal fans are also eager to bring Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo to the club and the arrival of Madueke is likely to end their pursuit of the Brazilian.

Meanwhile, the transfer fee is seen as excessive given Madueke is expected to play a back-up role to Saka, with fans wanting that money to be spent on a player capable of elevating the level of their starting XI, such as Rodrygo.

Finally, Arsenal fans also believe that Madueke’s arrival will block Ethan Nwaneri’s path to regular minutes. Although the England U21 international is naturally an attacking midfielder, the majority of his senior game time has come as a right winger and Madueke will likely usurp the teenager in the pecking order.

Overall, however, Arsenal fans are angry for no real reason.

Madueke isn’t the finished article, better options are potentially on the market and he is unlikely to become a starter at the Emirates Stadium. For €60m, that’s a bit of a concern.

But, his talent is clear and Arteta has already proven his credentials when it comes to improving forward players.

Madueke is already an extremely dangerous dribbler, boasting the second-highest tally of progressive carries in the entire Premier League last season, while he is excellent at creating chances for himself.

Only three wingers with over 1,000 minutes played in the English top flight last term could better his xG per 90 total of 0.43 and while he isn’t a consistent goalscorer yet, Arsenal evidently believe he will develop into a more potent threat in the final-third over the next few years.

Madueke may not be the perfect signing and Arsenal fans have a few reasons to not support the transfer, but the reaction has been extremely overblown and supporters should be far more optimistic than they currently are.

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