Manchester United legend Gary Neville has said that Noni Madueke has looked like “a different player” since leaving Chelsea for Arsenal this summer.
The England international didn’t exactly set the world alight during his time at Stamford Bridge, and it was a bit of a surprise when Arsenal started to work on signing him.
There were anti-Madueke petitions from some Gunners fans at the time, and Neville has admitted he could see why Chelsea were open to selling him.
Still, Madueke has started brightly for Arsenal, and also shone for England in their emphatic 5-0 win over Serbia this week.
Neville has been impressed, to say the least, as he discussed the 23-year-old on this week’s episode of The Overlap.
Noni Madueke impressing since joining Arsenal
Neville singled out Madueke as he admitted he’d been surprised by his form for Mikel Arteta’s side, asking Ian Wright about his long-term role in the team.
“I would ask about Madueke because, I’ll be honest with you, when he when Arsenal signed him, I’d seen him play quite a lot at Chelsea. I thought … I can see why Chelsea sort of let him go,” Neville said.
“I tell you – what a different player at Arsenal, and in the England games in the last few weeks.”
What is Madueke’s best position?
Neville went on to ask Wright if he felt Madueke would primarily play on the right or the left for Arsenal.
The former Man Utd defender was hugely impressed by what he saw from the former Chelsea man on the right-hand side for England, but Bukayo Saka’s presence in that position could be an issue for him at Arsenal.
Wright made the point that it’s good for Arsenal to have the competition on that side, but one imagines it will also give Arteta some much-needed depth on the other flank.
Eberechi Eze also joined AFC this summer and can play on the left, but he might also get chances in the centre, so that gives Madueke two positions he can provide depth in.
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