Has Noni Madueke been rumbled by Arsenal and England? – Opinion

Noni Madueke played 48 times last season in a campaign where the Gunners lifted the title and reached their second-ever Champions League Final. Whatever happens in the rest of his career, no one can take that away from the player; he earned his medal, and his part in the club’s proud history will live forever.

Given the 24-year-old then started four games at the World Cup, you could argue few players as limited have achieved such accolades.

Are managers beginning to lose faith in Madueke?

It’s not like the attacker represents a nation with limited options.

While Thomas Tuchel stressed he wanted a Three Lions squad with alternative options, many English fans would have had more faith in Palmer to produce a moment of magic or trusted Foden in the final third.

England’s boss would have identified Madueke’s pace as a useful weapon off the bench, especially against tired defenders in the heat.

I have often compared him to Eboue in being a talent who can knock the ball past his full-back and win the race, but then you could flip a coin in terms of his final ball. An extra touch is taken when it’s not needed, a cross is essentially smashing the ball and hoping for the best, and too often there is this horrible habit of running the ball out of play.

Yet Mikel Arteta must have known all of this when he authorised nearly £50 million to be spent on the winger from Chelsea?

The same strengths and flaws were evident at Stamford Bridge, so the assumption was our manager felt he could coach the player to become better.

At his age, that can still happen, but it’s increasingly looking likely that his footballing intelligence will not develop and that those he works for are losing faith.

Trossard, Martinelli, Jesus, Nelson and Nwaneri have all left the Emirates this summer, yet despite less competition this campaign, Madueke is still struggling to start in the league. An unused substitute at Brighton, a 16-year-old was ahead of him in the pecking order.

Could a January loan already be considered?

He will have the next three weeks off after not being called up for England’s Nations League fixtures. Not many fully fit players go from starting the quarter-final of a World Cup to being dropped entirely two months later.

So, could that be one of his bosses giving up on him?

His boss in North London has a history of washing his hands of talent the moment he thinks they no longer suit his ethos, even if it hurts the club financially. That’s why rumours have begun regarding a loan move in January, because few will pay what we paid on top of his wages.

A loan 18 months after such an investment would represent terrible business.

It’s not like there has been a serious injury or loss of form.

It’s like Madueke is a competition winner who has got away for years with being paid thousands of pounds to play on the biggest stage, safe in the knowledge that no one would notice he has no business at this level.

Mikel Arteta and Tuchel are two of the highest-paid managers in the UK. Why it took them this long to notice is a question for another day.

Dan Smith

What do you think, Gooners? Has Noni Madueke simply hit a difficult spell, or is Dan right to question whether Arsenal and England are beginning to lose faith in him?

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