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Noni Madueke is yet to open his account for Arsenal in the Premier League, but he's made a habit of finding the net on the European stage
Noni Madueke has stolen the headlines following Arsenal's 3-0 win over Club Brugge. The 23-year-old winger fired the Gunners to victory in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night, finding the net either side of half-time.
Madueke broke the deadlock inside the opening half-hour, finding the top right-hand corner. The England international, who swapped Stamford Bridge for the Emirates Stadium in the summer, doubled his tally for the evening shortly after the break.
Gabriel Martinelli put the third and final nail in the coffin a few moments later to secure three crucial points in the race for a top-eight spot. Madueke is yet to open his account for Arsenal in the Premier League, but the former Chelsea forward has now scored in each of his last two appearances on the European stage.
From Thierry Henry to The Mirror, the media have showered the Englishman with praise. So, with that being said, football.london has rounded up the reaction to the Gunners' victory against Club Brugge.
The BBC
Speaking on Match of the Day, Chris Sutton described Madueke as a 'really smart signing'. The former Chelsea striker said: "It wasn't just with his goals that Madueke made an impact - he did really well throughout the game and showed he is ready to do a job when he is called upon.
"More and more, Madueke looks like a really smart signing. I already thought he was a loss to Chelsea, but you are seeing now he is back from injury that Arsenal can have Saka off that right side, or use [Madueke].
"It bodes really well for them with such a busy period coming up. In the end though, it was just about getting three points for Arsenal and avoiding any more injuries - and they achieved both of those aims.
"They are still top of the Champions League and they still have a 100% record. They know they must be going through and they even have the luxury of maybe resting players now in their next game against Inter Milan, which is exactly where Arteta wants to be."
CBS Sports
Thierry Henry was delighted with Madueke's performance. Speaking on CBS Sports, the Arsenal legend said: "Noni Madueke! What can you do? Can you create something when your team cannot help you? That’s exactly what he did.
"Takes the ball, said to the player from Brugge, ‘go to the gym’, gets inside and smashes it off the crossbar. I love that! Create something out of nothing. Well done, Madueke!"
Henry later added: "This is what I’m saying. What can you do? Can you create something out of nothing? Again, Noni Madueke sending a player to the gym first, turns, goes back inside and then he had one thing on his mind, to strike that ball in. What a goal!"
TNT Sports
Speaking on TNT Sports, Martin Keown suggested that Arteta could deploy Madueke on the left, just to fit him into the starting lineup. The Arsenal legend said: "That is a special, special goal. The power he generates on the shot is quite remarkable.
"He slowly explodes into this, drives on and that shot… there’s not a goalkeeper on the planet who stops that. It’s a really well-struck strike. Wow. He’s like a bolt of electricity, Madueke.
"Two goalkeepers in there wouldn’t have saved that. Madueke started the season quite well and then had that unfortunate injury. He’s come back in and put down a marker there."
Keown added: "When you start looking forward and think about Arsenal’s best XI, you wonder if Madueke ends up on the left. Saka will likely stay on the right.
"We haven’t seen them available together much this season due to their injuries but that could be an option going forward."
talkSPORT
Speaking on talkSPORT, Simon Jordan tipped Arsenal to win both the Premier League and Champions League this season. The former Crystal Palace owner said: "I think there's a possibility that Arsenal can win both.
"I think it's going to be a tall order. The emotional maturity of the squad and the manager being able to contest two very significant fronts might mean they just get one or the other. But I think there's a capability of doing both."
The Mirror
In a column for The Mirror, Nathan Ridley pointed out that the travelling Arsenal supporters grew frustrated with Viktor Gyokeres. He wrote: "It's not Easter yet but Arsenal's own Jesus, Gabriel, made his return from injury in the second half, 11 months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament during an FA Cup defeat to Manchester United in January.
"The Brazilian came on for Viktor Gyokeres and could that be a sign of things to come? Although Mikel Merino has done a sterling job whenever Gyokeres hasn't played, Jesus is a natural No.9 and offers something in behind.
"Gyokeres had a very quiet night and frustrations could be heard from the away end. The £64m man will be desperate for a goal against Wolves on Saturday."
The Daily Mail
Isaan Khan claimed that Ethan Nwaneri should take a leaf out of Martinelli's book. In The Daily Mail, he wrote: "What a turnaround Martinelli has made, using the Champions League to springboard his Arsenal fortunes.
"It was only in August when there were talks of the player being sold, and earlier this season he found himself on the periphery because of Madueke and Leandro Trossard’s exploits.
"It is an important case study which Ethan Nwaneri can learn from, having slid way down Arteta’s pecking order," added Khan. "Nwaneri is struggling to make the starting line-up, even in games such as this where Arteta made five changes from the side that lost to Aston Villa on Saturday.
"Taking a page out of Martinelli’s book, though, can do Nwaneri no harm. He’s only 18, and time is on his side."
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