Why Noni Madueke's recent form proves he can step up for Arsenal

Noni Madueke broke the deadlock against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, scoring in the 80th minute of a game where Arsenal had offered very little threat. He came on at half-time; he was given the chance and took it.

He is often seen as a backup option, but his strengths as a direct winger make him a useful outlet from the bench when Arsenal need something different. He has also been one of the most criticised players in the squad, with many fans wanting more from him, whether in the numbers, defensive contributions, or overall in the games itself.

Noni Madueke is both resilent and self-aware

What strikes me most is his mentality. Fans did not welcome his arrival, and a "No to Madueke" petition circulated before the transfer was even complete. The criticism has followed him from Chelsea to Arsenal, yet he keeps working. That kind of resilience is harder to find than people assume.

In a Four8TV video titled "Can You Handle The Spotlight?", Madueke sat down with Ola Aina, Nikita Parris, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Yves Bissouma for an honest conversation about the pressures of football, perception and faith. He admitted he writes a "caption for God" in the hope that "maybe next week I'll score again." Social media poked fun at it with the typical memes, which highlighted his “performative” nature. Aina, who ironically plays for Forest, laughed when he said it, and Madueke later scored the winner against his side.

I took something different from that admission. Owning up to a habit that might look performative, and being able to question his own motives shows real self-awareness and honesty.

Mikel Arteta has been consistent in his praise. He described Madueke as a special character who is loved in and around the dressing room, and said some teammates named him as the person they would call if they had a problem.

On the pitch, Arteta sees "another level of anger, another level of conviction" since the break, and a player who is becoming decisive in matches. He added that Madueke does not mind which flank he plays on, though he has played far more minutes on the right, where the team needs him at the moment.

Thomas Tuchel has noticed the same qualities with England. After Madueke scored against Serbia in September 2025, he said, "The work rate is what I like the most in his performance today. He's fast, he's direct, and he likes to dribble. That's what we want from him."

Consistency has been the main concern, and it is a fair one. Even so, his recent performances, especially his performances against Leeds last weekend and Forest on Sunday, show a player ready to take some responsibility in attack. Arsenal have lacked a clinical edge elsewhere, with Tzolis unavailable and Havertz, Gyokeres, Saka and Merino’s performances also quite stagnant; it is imperative for someone on the frontline.

That makes this Madueke's best opportunity to establish himself and build his confidence. He has already shown he can handle the outside noise, and the next step is proving he can handle the responsibility consistently.

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