‘Most excited I’ve ever been’: Noni Madueke delivers glowing verdict on Arsenal summer signing
Noni Madueke could barely contain his excitement for Arsenal’s newest summer signing.
Ezri Konsa officially joined the Premier League champions last Friday, and was welcomed on the pitch before the Coventry win at the Emirates Stadium.
Since then, Arsenal have shared footage of Konsa on his first day at the club on their official TikTok account, including opening a written message from Madueke.
The two have become close friends as England teammates, and Madueke is clearly buzzing that they are now club teammates too.
“Ezri my brother, congratulations,” Madueke wrote to Konsa. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited to have a new teammate.
“We’ve gone from rivals to teammates to brothers and now to teammates at club level. I can’t wait to play and train with you every day bro and also have great moments on the pitch.
“You’re more than ready for this next step in your career, my bro. You’re that guy, and I can’t wait for you to show everyone that.
“I know we’re going to push each other to new levels and I know that you’re going to be an amazing addition to the team and the club in general.”
It’s also been well-documented that Konsa is very close friends with Bukayo Saka off the pitch.
The defender was even spotted on FaceTime to Saka during the Premier League trophy parade.
You have to assume this is something Mikel Arteta considers when recruiting players — Madueke, Konsa, and Eberechi Eze were all close friends of Saka before joining.
Another summer signing Bruno Guimaraes is a close friend of both Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes, while Gabriel Jesus will of course be familiar with him too.
When will Ezri Konsa make his Arsenal debut?
Konsa was welcomed onto the pitch to a warm reception before kick-off for Arsenal’s 3-0 opening day win over Coventry. But playing came too soon as he wasn’t quite registered in time.
The immediate need for him is pretty obvious though. Piero Hincapie was the only defender on the bench for Arteta’s side, who are without both William Saliba and Jurrien Timber through injury.
Konsa could well make his competitive debut in the second game of the season, next Monday night away at his former side Aston Villa.
Whether he immediately displaces an in-form Cristhian Mosquera remains to be seen.
But whenever he does play, he will have the full backing of a dressing room that already considers him one of their own.
