Arsenal winger Noni Madueke has made clear there is no bad blood with former club Chelsea as he now prepares to face the Blues for the first time since leaving during the summer.
Madueke joined Arsenal in a deal worth up to £52 million ($68.8 million) in July, bringing a swift end to his time at Stamford Bridge only two-and-a-half years into a seven-year contract that ran until 2030. It had been apparent for a few months that Chelsea were willing to cash in and sell Madueke for a profit, having spent £28.5 million to sign him in January 2023.
That kind of approach fits the club’s recruitment strategy down to the ground, treating every transfer as a business transaction, leaving Madueke to consider his options and agree terms with Arsenal.
The England international has had his early months at the club disrupted by a knee injury, but he marked Wednesday’s statement Champions League win over Bayern Munich with a maiden Gunners goal. After eyebrows were raised at the transfer fee, it goes some way to answering his critics.
“[Proving doubters wrong] was a little factor, for sure,” he told postgame, asked if the negativity had made him more determined to succeed with Arsenal.
“I’m a confident player so I don’t really like anyone telling me that I can’t do something. But it’s my teammates and the staff, how they’ve taken to me and the belief they have in me [which is] the real reason I want to do my thing and give back, play really well and help us win trophies.”
There was a glimmer of a knowing smile on Madueke’s face when he referenced “another big one” coming up on Sunday against Chelsea, perhaps determined to make a point against the team that was willing to let him go. But his words suggested he isn’t holding onto a grudge, at least.
“We will have to wait and see, it’s first vs. second, but they are a top team, we have a top team, so it will be a good game, God willing, we get the result we want,” Madueke said.
