Noni Madueke: There's Noni To Be Upset

[A_G]

A Saka backup was much needed and was consistently stated as a requirement for years . Just because there were competing priorities, doesn't mean there wasn't a need to protect the team against our biggest key man risk.

Let's be real - the backlash wasn't because we spent money on a backup RW. If we had bought Akliouche - no one would have said ****. It's because he was a Chelsea player. Short of signing Palmer, the reaction would have been the same had we bought any player from there regardless of position.

Well it was £50m on a player who had flattered to deceive in his career. Would’ve been the same sentiment at any other club.

 

[ksarp]

Wait till he gets subpar game. He has more variety in his game, and my fears of defensive laxity are gone. Keep it up, Noni!

 

[Thrice]

Well it was £50m on a player who had flattered to deceive in his career. Would’ve been the same sentiment at any other club.

There probably wasn't a single person in the football world who thought "This is shrewd business by Arsenal". It was a big gamble. It seems to have paid off so far, but that was far from guaranteed.

 

[Sanchez11]

For me the transfer was bad timing. I was p1ssed off at the time, but let him cook now.

 

[KingT]

I wonder how long these types of performances can last if they don't come with an end product.

 

[Gooner Zig]

I wonder how long these types of performances can last if they don't come with an end product.

If he keeps playing like this the end product will come, imo.

 

[Leo_ense_]

Needs to be hitting 10 goals and assists, Martinelli and trossard were hitting that or close to it in their bad years

 

[bergholt]

Everyone assumed when we signed him that he'd be the only big signing of the window after Zubi. That was a problem because it would have left the squad unbalanced.

Now that we know that's not the case, it makes no sense to criticise him, especially given his performances. Anyone still anti-Noni is completely irrational.

 

[dino bravo]

I am happy with him, but part of me is slightly concerned that he has 0 G/A so far, yet is playing great. I think Chelsea fans said that is what he does too.

Hopefully he is still learning his teammates runs etc.

 

[Rasputin]

He's been fantastic - probably our best so far. Would alternate him and Saka left and right during games to bamboozle the opposition backline and leave Eze more central.

 

[Melquiades]

A Saka backup was much needed and was consistently stated as a requirement for years . Just because there were competing priorities, doesn't mean there wasn't a need to protect the team against our biggest key man risk.

Let's be real - the backlash wasn't because we spent money on a backup RW. If we had bought Akliouche - no one would have said ****. It's because he was a Chelsea player. Short of signing Palmer, the reaction would have been the same had we bought any player from there regardless of position.

This is 100% correct.

Like I said at the time if we had signed this exact player at this exact price but he played for AC Milan or Sociedad or something the reaction would have been totally opposite. The insanity that happened was completely, entirely because of the team he signed from and because bizarrely triggered fans drew a stupid parallel between this signing of a young player and a couple signings of washed-up Chelsea players many years ago.

 

[Geofranco]

This is 100% correct.

Like I said at the time if we had signed this exact player at this exact price but he played for AC Milan or Sociedad or something the reaction would have been totally opposite. The insanity that happened was completely, entirely because of the team he signed from and because bizarrely triggered fans drew a stupid parallel between this signing of a young player and a couple signings of washed-up Chelsea players many years ago.

Many years ago? Like Sterling wasn't here last season lol

 

[Iwobeast]

I wonder how long these types of performances can last if they don't come with an end product.

On another day he would’ve had two assists

 

[db10_therza]

Many years ago? Like Sterling wasn't here last season lol

 

[Mraven]

This is 100% correct.

Like I said at the time if we had signed this exact player at this exact price but he played for AC Milan or Sociedad or something the reaction would have been totally opposite. The insanity that happened was completely, entirely because of the team he signed from and because bizarrely triggered fans drew a stupid parallel between this signing of a young player and a couple signings of washed-up Chelsea players many years ago.

If Madueke played in La Liga or Serie A he would be an 80mill player.

 

[Buhry]

I wonder how long these types of performances can last if they don't come with an end product.

Allthough he didn't get any on saturday he had some effective moments though like the one where gyok smashed the post and the pass to timber who crossed to rice who didn't quite reach it but that was a clever moment from him with the way he delayed it first. So it was pretty promising in that regard i'd say.

 

[dka1]

This is 100% correct.

Like I said at the time if we had signed this exact player at this exact price but he played for AC Milan or Sociedad or something the reaction would have been totally opposite. The insanity that happened was completely, entirely because of the team he signed from and because bizarrely triggered fans drew a stupid parallel between this signing of a young player and a couple signings of washed-up Chelsea players many years ago.

Yes I think you're right about AC Milan/Sociedad, but I honestly think had we even signed him from any team in the PL apart from Chelsea (even City/Utd), the reaction wouldn't have been as strong.

Was it an overreaction? The abuse and petition was downright disgraceful, but tbh I've long come to accept I don't like a lot of Arsenal fans (I don't really go on about it, but yh).

Was it an overreaction to not like the signing? I'd say no. I believe Clive Palmer wasn't too hot on the signing before it became more confirmed, and I don't think it's unfair to say that Clive is considered one of the more rational/calm voices in Arsenal circles.

It didn't help that every Chelsea fan/commentator I saw reacting to it, was mocking Arsenal regarding the transfer (less that Madueke is bad, but more the deal wasn't great). Not to mention there was a bit of confusion regarding exactly what role we were signing him for (were we going to try and play him from the left, where he wasn't amazing for Chelsea, or was he meant more as a Saka back up).

Of course, our past deals with Chelsea didn't help. Yes; people get burned by bad past experiences, and I do think that's a normal part of the human experience. It doesn't make things like the petition correct (again horrid, abhorrent etc.), but to not love the signing when it first occurred; that's ok.

Then on the flip side, I do honestly think the majority of fans were (despite their own personal views) willing to give him a chance (that's the boat I was in), and he's been brilliant, and I'm happy to say I was wrong, and he's exceeded my own expectations.

Speaking more on Madueke himself, I think the end product will come. Given what we know about the transfer, Arteta likely played a big role and presumably has a plan to get more from Madueke regarding end product. Plus with more time and understanding with his teammates; the goals and assists will come.

 

[ash_rasul]

The promising thing is whenever once he got himself into a threatening position (which was more than a few times on Saturday!), more often than not he put the ball into a dangerous area where on another day it may have resulted in a goal or two. He seemed to make the correct decision the majority of the time, though perhaps the execution could be a little more refined.

There is plenty to work with here, based on his first few appearances. I'm pleasantly surprised.

 

[Bogart]

Yes I think you're right about AC Milan/Sociedad, but I honestly think had we even signed him from any team in the PL apart from Chelsea (even City/Utd), the reaction wouldn't have been as strong.

Was it an overreaction? The abuse and petition was downright disgraceful, but tbh I've long come to accept I don't like a lot of Arsenal fans (I don't really go on about it, but yh).

Was it an overreaction to not like the signing? I'd say no. I believe Clive Palmer wasn't too hot on the signing before it became more confirmed, and I don't think it's unfair to say that Clive is considered one of the more rational/calm voices in Arsenal circles.

It didn't help that every Chelsea fan/commentator I saw reacting to it, was mocking Arsenal regarding the transfer (less that Madueke is bad, but more the deal wasn't great). Not to mention there was a bit of confusion regarding exactly what role we were signing him for (were we going to try and play him from the left, where he wasn't amazing for Chelsea, or was he meant more as a Saka back up).

Of course, our past deals with Chelsea didn't help. Yes; people get burned by bad past experiences, and I do think that's a normal part of the human experience. It doesn't make things like the petition correct (again horrid, abhorrent etc.), but to not love the signing when it first occurred; that's ok.

Then on the flip side, I do honestly think the majority of fans were (despite their own personal views) willing to give him a chance (that's the boat I was in), and he's been brilliant, and I'm happy to say I was wrong, and he's exceeded my own expectations.

Speaking more on Madueke himself, I think the end product will come. Given what we know about the transfer, Arteta likely played a big role and presumably has a plan to get more from Madueke regarding end product. Plus with more time and understanding with his teammates; the goals and assists will come.

A significant minority who actually liked the signing too.

I don’t think our fans are actually too bad when I meet them at least but they certainly have quite ungracious moments at times. Most fanbases for top clubs are pretty toxic in deferent ways.

Arsenal fans have had a very confusing 15 or 20 years in terms of how they should feel about what’s going on. At utd the story is simple, they were winning (the good times) and now they are ****ing it up (the bad times). The story at Arsenal has always been a little more complex than that with the stadium, the owners, Granit Xhaka, the high quality performances without silverware etc. and I think it’s reflected in the fan base, even in this forum tbh. We don’t behave like the forums for other top clubs imo, I do like this place and the people here but it can be a little strange at times.

 

[lomekian]

As main LW signing I didn't really understand it despite liking the player, but as a Saka rotation who can also do a job left, but with another left sided player coming in, its a sensible signing. Most of what he's doing so far matches my expectations, but I didn't expect him to settle so quickly or that his corner kicks would be so dangerous.

It also seems despite all the debate that he does count as homegrown too, though not sure exactly how.