Andrea Berta given clear Noni Madueke to Arsenal transfer verdict ahead of £52m deal

Noni Madueke is expected to be announced as an Arsenal player in the coming days, with the winger expected to sign a five-year contract, football.london understands.

The 23-year-old left Chelsea's Club World Cup camp prior to the Blues' 3-0 win over PSG in the final on Sunday and travelled to London to complete the formalities of the deal. Andrea Berta and Mikel Arteta identified Madueke as a target earlier this summer and have agreed to pay Chelsea an initial £48.5million with £3.5million in add-ons.

Since news broke of Madueke's potential arrival at Emirates Stadium, a small section of the Arsenal fanbase appeared to show their discontent at the move. A petition was set up opposing the transfer, #NoToMadueke gained traction on X, and murals outside Emirates Stadium were vandalised late last week with the words 'Arteta out'.

This appears to only be the view of a small section of the fanbase, however. football.london ran a poll over the weekend asking supporters the following question: Will Noni Madueke be a good signing?

More than 2,400 people had their say in the poll and a huge 73% voted yes, while 27% voted no. Judging by the results, then, it appears that most Gunners supporters are in favour of the move, with Madueke providing extra quality and depth to the Arsenal frontline, especially the right and Bukayo Saka.

The treatment of Madueke even caused Rio Ferdinand to go on a rant on social media. Taking to X last week, the Manchester United legend said: "Noni Madueke. For a Young 23 year old English footballer to be vilified, bullied, embarrassed and totally strip down at a time when you’re meant to be celebrating a transfer worth £55 million.

"Yes a young kid with a dream about to secure a £55 million dream move to a club of his desire leaving a rival at that to be treated in this manner via section of the Arsenal fan base is an utter disgrace. Just put yourself in his shoes for one minute just put yourself in his parents shoes for one minute and just think of how that feeling must be.

"I’ll say it again, at a time as a player as a human as a family you should be celebrating. I just hope the people that are closest to him are around him and supporting him in the way that he needs right now. It’s fine for fans to disagree with signings or decisions made at their football club but the way some fans have publicly voiced their opinions and those who have gone a step further in publicly joining a petition for this player not to be signed by their football club is beyond me.

"I have never seen anything like this before, and I hope I don’t ever again. Like I said earlier just imagine this was your best friend, one of your family members, your brother, son…then tell me how would you feel if they were on the receiving end of this vulgar behaviour ??? By the way, This isn’t aimed at all Arsenal fans it’s just a small section who have become very loud unfortunately. I just hope the transfer goes through and Noni Madueke rams all of this negativity back down the throats of these impostors. Whatever happens from here good luck Noni."

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