Noni Madueke earned backlash for how he reacted to substitution as Arsenal fans annoyed

Arsenal secured a dramatic late equaliser against Manchester City on Sunday, though the afternoon wasn't without its complications.

Eyebrows were raised when Mikel Arteta sacrificed Noni Madueke at the interval, with the manager's ability to maximise the winger's potential remaining crucial for the Gunners moving forward. Supporters expressed frustration when Madueke's number appeared on the board at the beginning of the second period, as Bukayo Saka made his return after injury.

When quizzed about the substitution after the final whistle, the boss hinted there may have been underlying factors at play - namely an injury scare for Madueke himself. "No, I think he had an issue very early in the match and he wasn't well enough to continue," Arteta explained.

He also dismissed suggestions his starting formation had been overly cautious, responding to one journalist: "I leave that to you, but for me it's a lot of attacking players in that team, yes."

Madueke's situation at Arsenal contrasts with his experience at Chelsea, at least when it comes to the manager in the dugout. The player evidently enjoys considerable support from Mikel Arteta, who made his feelings clear by sanctioning a big-money signing, but Madueke had to prove himself over again as various bosses passed through Stamford Bridge.

The England international faced scrutiny for certain incidents during his time in West London - notably in a fixture against his current club in November 2024. That day, he was replaced by Mykhailo Mudryk during the second period and responded by marching directly towards the tunnel. Madueke later clarified it was simply for a quick toilet break.

"It's disrespectful to your team-mates. I think the manager protecting him is mad, that's a two-week fine," Rio Ferdinand had previously commented on social media before Madueke set the record straight. Ex-Chelsea coach Jody Morris echoed Ferdinand's sentiments on talkSPORT, stating: "I'd be fuming and I think we've got a manager that would address that instantly which I think the best ones do. It's not just disrespectful to your team-mates but to the fans as well."

However, Morris conceded there could have been extenuating circumstances, which indeed turned out to be the case. "I literally went down the tunnel to go to the toilet and I came back 30 seconds later," explained Madueke.

"If you watch a lot of games when I come off, I always going straight down the tunnel to go to the toilet. It is nothing major at all."

This isn't the first time the winger has found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, even if this instance proved innocuous. During Mauricio Pochettino's stint as Chelsea manager, Madueke caused a stir by attempting to take a penalty from Cole Palmer during a resounding victory over Everton - a move that left commentator Alan Smith less than impressed.

"I've never seen anything like it," former Arsenal striker Smith said. "In this kind of situation, with this scoreline. Grow up! I don't blame Cole Palmer for not wanting to give that one up. He's the designated taker and he's the best one at it."

Incidents such as the penalty dispute have left Madueke with a dubious standing amongst certain observers, though supporters have been swift to defend him. Even last week, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown's pointed enquiry to the player wasn't particularly well-received.

"Noni, have you taken your game to another level? Because you look more collective," Keown asked Madueke after Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest. "I was worried about you when you came. Because I thought sometimes you can be a little bit selfish, but now, you seem to have got really good balance to your play. The decisions you're making have been outstanding."

Whilst some supporters criticised Keown, Madueke responded with composure. "It's easy to play with these guys. I'm having a great time. Maybe I have taken a step in that direction," he said.

This campaign will require careful juggling from Mikel Arteta. Madueke represents just one of several wide options available, with Saka having returned from injury, Gabriel Martinelli netting a crucial leveller on Sunday and Leandro Trossard making his mark from the substitutes' bench during the Champions League triumph in Bilbao.

Last year, Arteta's job was arguably easier as injuries dictated his decisions during the final stretch - although this presented its own challenges. This season, assuming Madueke's injury scare isn't too severe, the challenge will be keeping everyone content.

It could be advantageous for Arsenal that Madueke has experience handling such competition, and he arguably coped with it better than some of his Chelsea colleagues last season, demonstrating an ability to step in and perform. It's definitely a situation to monitor this season - and Sunday may not be the last time Arteta is questioned about why he substituted Madueke when he did.