Arsenal landed Noni Madueke from Chelsea in the summer with the winger scoring his first Gunners goal in midweek ahead of his return to Stamford Bridge this weekend
Noni Madueke insists he’ll have no issues dealing with any hostility on his first return to Chelsea as he prepares to head back to Stamford Bridge with Arsenal.
The England winger made the move across the capital in the summer following two years in blue, but is now excelling under Mikel Arteta. Madueke enjoyed the best moment of his Gunners career thus far when he scored in the Champions League win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
He’s part of an impressive Arsenal frontline that has helped steer the north Londoners to the top of the Premier League. They’ve lost just once but head to Chelsea, who sit second, this weekend.
Madueke may well be the target for Chelsea fans after he joined their rivals in the summer but the winger insists dealing with difficult atmospheres is part of the deal and it won’t be his first experience with his focus firmly on extending Arsenal’s lead.
He said: “It might be a little bit hostile; it might not be. But I am a professional footballer. I have played in loads of atmospheres. I don’t know if anything will faze me. I will just be focused on the task. The fixture is not about me. The fixture is about Arsenal getting another three points in the league and being closer to the objective.”
Even Madueke’s own fans didn’t want him when Arsenal initially pursued his £48.5million signing. There was widespread disapproval back in July as a cluster of fans created a #NoToMadueke campaign on social media. But he has since proved them wrong and has arguably surpassed expectations.
Only months later and the 23-year-old insists he can feel the love from the Arsenal fans. “You are in the public eye – people can say whatever they want about you,” he said. “But being in the stadium, and how the fans have taken to me in the stadium, is unbelievable.”
The winger spent two years at Chelsea
He went on to say: “The last game versus Tottenham was incredible and that gives me such a boost. I play on the side of the pitch. I can feel them; I can hear them. When they are that positive about me it gives me a massive boost. Honestly, I am made up about it.”
Madueke’s strike against Bayern was his first goal for Arsenal. The Gunners already hold a six point lead at the top and, should results go their way, could further extend that as they bid to end their 21-year wait for a Premier League title.