From moaning about our lack of business to moaning about the business we have done.
In the last few days, we have seen online abuse sent to Noni Madueke, a petition started against his signing and the tunnel murals graffitied over.
Sadly we have become the most laughed at fanbase in England. And one of the most dispised.
Entitled fans who think finishing 2nd is a sackable offence. Who want to get rid of the man who has raised their expectation level for not reaching the high standards they do not even set themselves in life.
Social media has a lot to answer for. And ultimately I blame AFTV.
Their rage baiting content of the late 2010s has spawned a generation of entitled online incell fans that believe rage, anger, and hate are the go to emotions.
I am just glad that the majority of these fans do not go to games. Either due to living hundreds or thousands of miles away or because daddy will no longer pay for their ticket.
The atmosphere at the Emirates is very different to the one that is seen online. But sadly it is the online presence that opposing fans and the media see as the representative voice.
If you post to divide, post to create rage, post to transfer the negativity in your own life into others, then you ain’t Arsenal.
Victoria Concordia Crescit Remember who you are and what you represent Do you like Arsenal, or just Arsenal with trophies?
Throughout the debate around Noni Madueke, I have continually made two points:
Since breaking through to the first team, we have never had adequate cover for Bukayo Saka
If not Noni Madueke, then who?
Cover for Saka
For years we have been complaining that Saka has been overplayed and we need to recruit cover. Now that we are targeting someone to be his back-up, fans are complaining.
Since Saka usurped Nicolas Pepe as our first choice right winger in 2020/21, The Ivorian was the only player who you could consider as decent cover on the right wing. And he only lasted one year as Saka’s back up.
Reiss Nelson has never really progressed, and more recently Raheem Sterling was a flop
2024/25 Bukayo Saka – 2619 total minutes Ethan Nwaneri – 1378 Raheem Sterling – 1143
2023/24 Bukayo Saka – 3865 Reiss Nelson – 641
2022/23 Bukayo Saka – 3744 Reiss Nelson – 590 Marquinhos – 2019
2021/22 Bukayo Saka – 3359 Nicolas Pepe – 951 Reiss Nelson – 19
2020/21 Bukayo Saka – 3606 Nicolas Pepe – 2930 Reiss Nelson – 450
2019/20 Nicolas Pepe – 2720 Bukayo Saka – 2704 Reiss Nelson – 1043
I get the theory around Ethan Nwaneri, but I do not believe Mikel Arteta sees the youngster as “Saka cover”. Next season I would expect Nwaneri to move inside to cover Martin Odegaard. And being first choice cover for two positions is not only a big ask for the 18-year-old but could also be detrimental for his future.
Better to learn now how to play a single position at senior level, and develop into a world class performer inside, rather than having to split his time between two positions and end up no fulfilling his potential in either.
We should all be in agreement that we need to recruit a new right winger – although I do also get the argument that if we sign Rodrygo and Eze, then a mixture of then plus Gabriel Martinelli and Nwaneri is more than adequate cover. But that is only if Martinelli stays.
Right wing options
So if we are saying no to Madueke, what are our options?
Almost all of the top 10 would not come to Arsenal to be cover. The only one that might have done would have been Bryan Mbeumo.
Two years ago I called for us to target the then 23-year-old Frenchman as Saka’s cover. However, a deal would unlikely happen now as he looks to be off to Manchester United to be a regular starter. You could probably cross him off the list.
It is interesting to note that Saka and Nwaneri are two of the top 10 most valuable. And Rodrygo is also on the list.
11-20
There are plenty of players here that would be interested in joining us. But would we be interested in them?
Christian Pulisic would have the same criticism as Madueke (ex-Chelsea), and I am not sure he is the type of winger we should be targeting. Likewise, Arda Guler always looks more suited to a central role, where we expect Nwaneri to play.
Maghnes Akliouche is a new name to me. The Algerian scored 5 goals and made 10 assists in Ligue 1 for Monaco last season. As a bit of an unknown, he would be a risk and it would be a big ask to step up to performing in the Premier League. Madueke gets the nod as he is Premier League proven.
Then you have Mohammed Kudus. The Ghanian looks off to Spurs and I would be concerned about the attitude problems he has shown at West Ham this season.
Amad Diallo had a breakout season for Manchester United last season, but is probably not the standard we need – highlighted by the fact that they are recruiting new wingers rather than giving him a chance.
And finally we have former wonderkid Karim Adeyemi. The German has never really progressed from being a highly rated youngster.
21-25
That leaves us with 21-25.
I have left Anthony Elanga on the list as he would have been an option before his move to Newcastle.
Elanga is interesting as I think he is the same level and very similar profile to Madueke. Would there have been as much criticism of the club if they spent £55m on Elanga against £40-50m on Madueke? I believe the only issue people we have with Madueke is he played for Chelsea..
As for the rest on this list, Mason Greenwood is a no for obvious reasons. As is Brennan Johnson (for different obvious reasons).
Jarrod Bowen is another I have had written down as possible cover for Saka, but he is so settled in West Ham’s first team these days that I do not think he would want to become a squad player.
25-50
Lets be honest, is there anyone on this list that would jump out as a better option than Madueke?
Cases could be made for some of them. But likewise a case could be made that Madueke is better than all of them.
Making the money work
I think one important factor in the Madueke deal is his salary – an offer reported to be in and around £75k a week on the table.
This would mean that, if we paid the full £50m, Madueke would cost us around £70m over 5-years. There are not many on this list who are his level or higher, and would cost that or less.
And this is where the Martinelli option falls down.
Martinelli is on £180k a week. that is a huge sum to be 4th choice winger (if we complete Rodrygo and Eze).
Over 5-years will cost us about £45m in salary. And on top of that, we could get in the region of £70m for him.
So selling Martinelli would generate us £70m+ and save us £45. A total of £115m. And replacing him with Madueke would equate to a net saving of £45m. This is a huge saving to make on a 4th choice winger.
Now of course, I have factored in us signing Rodrygo and Eze. If one of these deals does not happen, Martinelli stays and would be our 3rd choice winger. But this does not change the equation that Madueke would still be needed as our 4th choice.
I do not see many better options on the table than Madueke.
Many of those who are better would come with a much higher price tag and salary, which would impact our ability to strengthen elsewhere. Those with a market value less than him would be a huge risk as the majority are not exactly performing to a high standard in lesser leagues.
So the question then is – if not Madueke, who should we recruit as back up to Saka?
Any deal for Rodrygo was always only going to pick up pace once Real Madrid’s Club World Cup campaign was over.
Last night, the former-great team were knocked out at the semi-final stage of the post-season friendly competition, meaning the door is now open for Arsenal to begin serious talks.
Rodrygo’s stats in the Club World Cup highlights where the Brazilian is in new manager Xabi Alonso’s plans:
Starts: 1 Appearances: 3 Left on the bench: 3 Minutes played: 92 (17% of available minutes)
It has been made very clear to Rodrygo that he is not going to be a regular starter for Alonso, so it is no surprise that his representatives are rumoured to have a meeting with the club next week to discuss their clients future.
Rodrygo’s position at Real Madrid reminds me of Alexis Sanchez back in 2014.
Clearly talented players, both men were consistently played out of position to make way for more high-profile, better players. For Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, read Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr.
In 2014, Barcelona signed Luis Suarez which left Sanchez as their 4th choice forward. He decided to push for a move to Arsenal where he could flourish in his favoured position and become a global superstar. For a time Sanchez was up there with the best players in the world.
Already competing with Vinicius Jr, Mbappe and Jude Bellingham (when he plays as a false 9), Rodrygo now has the highly talented trio of Endrick, Franco Mastantuono and Gonzalo Garcia to contend with.
At the Club World Cup, Rodrygo has been victim of Xabi Alonson continuing to shuffle the pack.
In the Spaniards 6 games in charge, he has played:
433 with Rodrygo right wing 433 with Federico Valverde 352 with Trent Alexander Arnold at right wing back and Vinicius Jr and Gonzalo up top (twice) 4312 with Bellingham playing behind Vinicius Jr and Gonzalo 4312 with Gonzalo playing behind Vinicius Jr and Mbappe
Rodrygo will likely disappear for a few weeks on holiday, resting and recuperating from the extended season. Whilst he is away, his representatives will be establishing if he has a future at Real Madrid, and if not what other options are there.
Coming to Arsenal, to be first choice left winger, will be high on his list of options. As will joining Bayern Munich following Jamal Musiala season long injury and Leroy Sane departing.
Following next weeks talks, Rodrygo will have a couple of weeks to ponder over his future before returning to Europe to make a final decision.
If it is Arsenal, I would expect the deal to happen in early August, at the earliest.
Rodrygo would unlikely join us in the US pre-season tour due to the late finish to the season, and negotiations with Real Madrid are unlikely to be concluded quickly.
I would expect his arrival to be close to, or after, the season has started. We would then have 2-3 weeks to get him match fit and ready for after the first international break 3 games in.
In the meantime, talk for Noni Madueke is increasing pace.
Madueke is splitting fans for a multitude of reasons: His price tag, and coming from Chelsea.
I feel those calling him a “Chelsea reject” are some way off the mark. Last season he started 80% of Premier League games for the team that finished 4th, and it highlights that we are recruiting real quality for out back up players.
Kepa was first choice keeper at Bournemouth – finished 9th. Christian Norgaard was captain of Brentford – finished 10th. Noni Madueke was first choice right winger at Chelsea – finished 4th.
Madueke would be coming in to be backup to Saka, and a left footed option on the left wing to provide further cover (for potentially Rodrygo). He is Premier League ready and offers the raw pace and unpredictability that the team is missing.
Still only 23, I do think it is incredible that fans are writing him off just because who he plays for.
I do get fans questioning his price tag, but what does it matter if it does not stop us doing the other business we want? And you also need to take into account his much lower wages.
Yes, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia cost PSG just £59m, and he is one of the best left wingers in the world. But they are also paying him of £300k a week putting his total cost at £137.
My bet is we get Madueke for around £45m + £5m add ons. With his wages taken into account, Madueke will likely cost us around £65-70m over 5 years. So whilst he might only be costing £9-15m less than Kvaratskhelia in transfer fee, the full cost will be over £60m less. And consider:
Bryan Mbeumo – £65m Mathues Cunha – £62m Anthony Elanga – £55m Mohammed Kudus – £55m
For me, Madueke is in the same bracket as these sort of fellas. And they have set the transfer fee for talented wingers who are perhaps not good enough to be starting week in week out for a top team.
Mbeumo and Cunha are ahead of him, but they are both 3-years old. And it is why Madueke will cost £15m+ less.
Madueke is on par with Elanga and Kudus taking into account their raw talent, attributes and age profile. None of them would start for Arsenal, Manchester City or Liverpool. All 3 would be back up players.
My view is if we get Madueke for less than the £50m doing the rounds (ideally closer to £40m with add ons), and his recruitment does not impact our chase for Rodrygo, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyorekes, then it is a very good move.
We moan for 3 years that Saka needs to play every game and we do not have a quality back up for him. We then spend the money to sign the man who is his back up for England and who played 80% of PL minutes for the team finishing 4th and we still moan!
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 