Noni Madueke: Mikel Arteta can repeat Kai Havertz trick with heavily-criticised Arsenal signing

Mikel Arteta's "track record" of improving players should help Noni Madueke become a success at Arsenal, Gunners legend Alan Smith has told Sports Mole.

One of the more controversial dealings of Arteta's reign so far, Arsenal confirmed the capture of the England international from their London rivals last week for an initial £48m, potentially rising to £52m with add-ons.

When rumours began to circulate that Arsenal were pressing ahead with plans to sign Madueke, many Arsenal fans did not take kindly to the news, and a petition against his signing collected over 5,000 signatures.

However, the 23-year-old has appeared in high spirits since making the move across the capital, and in an exclusive interview with Sports Mole, Smith backed him to drown out the 'loud voices' of the naysayers.

“The transfer came as a bit of a surprise," the ex-Arsenal striker said. "It didn't seem an obvious one, but you mentioned his versatility and, and I think they need more options.

'Awful lot of Arsenal fans looking forward to seeing Madueke'

"They need somebody who can step in for Saka, who sometimes you feel has been overplayed. Martinelli's form has been a little up and down.

“When you sign for a club, you have a long talk with the manager. You listen to what he's got to say, his plans for the team, for the starting 11. And what Arteta has said has obviously been good enough for him. He’s only young still, he’ll get better. He should get better under a coach like Arteta, who's got a track record of improving players.

“Negative reactions, negative opinions, they've normally got the loudest voices. There'd be an awful lot of Arsenal fans who will be looking forward to seeing him in a red and white shirt thinking he could help us here, and hopefully he can.”

Despite being signed before Arsenal jetted off to Asia for their pre-season tour, Madueke was not called up to Arteta's squad for the trip owing to his Club World Cup feats with Chelsea.

The former Tottenham Hotspur youngster could therefore make his unofficial Arsenal debut against Villarreal at the Emirates on August 6, three days before the Emirates Cup against Athletic Bilbao.

Arteta's 'track record' of improving players analysed after Madueke transfer

Many Gooners doubted Kai Havertz and Aaron Ramsdale when they arrived at the Emirates; the latter was even the subject of death threats following his switch from Sheffield United in 2021.

However, Ramsdale excelled for two seasons at the club under Arteta, while Havertz's 13 Premier League goals in the 2023-24 season is at least five more than he managed in any Chelsea campaign.

Furthermore, Hale End graduates Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have come on leaps and bounds under Arteta's leadership; the latter has gone from a fringe left-back to first choice for club and country in the space of several months.

As with every club, there will be some transfer failures, and the most notable Arteta ones that spring to mind are two Chelsea attackers in Willian and Raheem Sterling.

Both wingers were past their prime when they joined, though, and there is nothing to suggest that Madueke will be Willian or Sterling 2.0 in the red and white.

Alan Smith was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of William Hill.

Written by
Ben Knapton