9 hours ago
2
Noni Madueke caught the eye as Arsenal cruised past Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadium in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night
Noni Madueke has proven he's ready to take on a greater role at Arsenal. The 23-year-old winger fired Mikel Arteta's side to a 3-0 victory against Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night as the Gunners returned to winning ways.
Making his first start in the competition since September, when Arsenal defeated Athletic Club during the opening week of the 'league phase', Madueke had a point to prove. The England international fired the north Londoners ahead inside the opening half-hour, smashing the ball into the top right-hand corner.
Madueke wrestled off Joaquin Seys and glided past Raphael Onyedika before beating Dani van den Heuvel from range. The former Chelsea ace, who swapped Stamford Bridge for the Emirates Stadium in the summer, beelined for the dugout, celebrating the goal with his teammates and the coaching staff.
He then doubled his tally shortly after the break; Madueke latched onto a cross from Martin Zubimendi at the back post, heading the ball into an open net. Gabriel Martinelli put the third and final nail in the coffin a few moments later.
On two occasions, the Englishman stepped up to the plate and gave Arsenal some much-needed breathing room. After a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend, his teammates would have appreciated Madueke's ability to take the wind out of the opposition's sails.
By showing his teeth on the European stage, he proved to Arteta that he's ready to take on a greater role. In the coming weeks, with the fixtures coming thick and fast, Madueke could ease the workload on Bukayo Saka.
In doing so, he'll protect the Arsenal talisman from joining the long list of patients in the treatment room. Before the end of January, the Gunners must face Inter Milan in the Champions League, as well as Liverpool and Manchester United in the Premier League.
There are Carabao Cup and FA Cup fixtures in the calendar too, so there's ample opportunity to give Madueke more minutes and Saka more rest. At the end of November, Arteta heaped praise on the former Chelsea winger for his maturity – on and off the pitch.
When Arsenal were first linked to Madueke, the hashtag #NoToMadueke trended on social media. Over 4,000 people also signed an online petition to oppose the transfer.
When quizzed on the Englishman's hostile welcome to north London, the Gunners boss said: "If anything it gave me more conviction and more will to help him. And do everything we possibly could to make his relationship work and to prepare everything around him in the best possible way.
"I am very pleased with him since the day that he came with his attitude and what he has brought to the team. He has brought another type of threat with his capacity to play on the right and the left and his skillset is different to what we had."
On Madueke's versatility, Arteta added: "We saw that again on Wednesday. He started in one position and changed into another position and being very, very efficient. It is great to have him back."
English (US) ·