Noni Madueke's comments about Raheem Sterling speak volumes amid £50m Arsenal transfer

4 days ago 72

Mikel Arteta is poised to welcome a supportive team-mate in Noni Madueke, as the Chelsea winger appears ready to trade Stamford Bridge for the Emirates Stadium.

Madueke's protective and kind nature has previously been observed with Chelsea forward and former Gunners loanee Raheem Sterling, whom he has defended on several occasions. Madueke will be Arsenal's fourth summer signing, after they agreed a £52million deal with their Premier League and London rivals Chelsea.

Madueke, 23, will sign a five-year contract, and while his addition will bolster a lacking forward line, Arteta will be equally pleased with the young winger's attitude towards his team-mates.

During the 2023/24 season, Chelsea faced Leicester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals, and fans were not impressed with Sterling's performance. He struggled to create opportunities and missed a penalty in the first half of the match that could have eased many fans' concerns.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino watches as Raheem Sterling is substituted for Noni Madueke during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final between Chelsea FC and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge on March 17, 2024 in London, England.

Noni Madueke stuck up for his team-mate Raheem Sterling following a dismal display for the Blues

After being substituted just minutes before full time, the winger was met with jeers and boos from the crowd, much to Madueke's frustration. Speaking post-match, the then-22-year-old defended his older colleague, urging Blues supporters to support the England international.

He said: "It's so important (to support him). I'm nobody to tell you not to have an opinion but I also have mine. That's one of my teammates, and the criticism is harsh and unfair. It's our duty to voice our opinion and try to change the narrative a bit.

"Raheem is an exceptional footballer and an even better person. It's a bit upsetting when I see some of the criticism. I'm sure he can handle it but we know how important he is for us.

"He's definitely a big brother figure for a lot of us. There is a lot that people don't see. All I know is that he's exceptional and super committed to the cause."

Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke of Chelsea during their flight to the United States of America at Heathrow Airport on July 22, 2024 in London, England.

Noni Madueke showcased his true colours with his support of Raheem Sterling

Following Sterling's public apology on social media for his penalty miss, Madueke stepped up once again to back the high-profile player. He said: "Bro no need to apologise... we appreciate you."

The Chelsea youngster also didn't hesitate to clap back at a critic who singled out Sterling for the penalty miss, as he said in a now-deleted reply: "Be quiet man, people like you are the issue."

Madueke's staunch defence of Sterling highlights his friendly nature and unwavering commitment to those he shares the pitch with. This strong stance in loyalty exemplifies exactly the type of character Arteta could be looking for, as Arsenal aim for that elusive Premier League crown.

Madueke is also basking in the glow of recent European triumphs. He recently clinched the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup with Chelsea, overcoming Real Betis and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively, to add more silverware to his trophy cabinet.

Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023

Join our Arsenal WhatsApp channel and get all the latest breaking news, opinion, podcasts and in-depth stories from football.london's dedicated Arsenal writers straight to your phone!

By following this free service you will be the first to know the news from the Emirates Stadium as it happens, when it happens.

To join our dedicated Arsenal channel, all you have to do is click this link and you can join thousands of others following our Gunners coverage!

If you're curious, you can check out our privacy policy here.

Story Saved

You can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.

Read Entire Article