… while Noni Madueke has consistently been used as a key player for Arsenal. Ever since his £52 million transfer from Chelsea, he had continued to show his godly potential and dogged disposition. The young forward has bamboozled skeptics with his dazzling displays. Manager Mikel Arteta has dubbed him a “mentality monster,” underscoring his importance to the team’s title-winning form in recent seasons. Since returning from injury last month, he’s wasted no time making his presence felt. He is an instant professional scorer as in only 240 minutes of play, he has three goals.
Madueke’s contributions extend beyond mere statistics. His training regimen is a powerful statement of what it requires to pursue excellence. In conjunction with his individual skills coach, Isaksson-Hurst, Madueke has put in hundreds of hours to perfect his craft and game. He started his first professional training four years at PSV Eindhoven. As a youth, he wanted to get the most out of himself.
Arteta has been impressed by Madueke’s quality and impact on his teammates – especially Gabriel Martinelli & Leandro Trossard. Whether playing left or right in recent matches, Madueke has been able to take advantage of his relative one-on-one prowess.
“As a forward player, you’ve got to be able to get on the ball and make something happen,” – Isaksson-Hurst
No player in the league can carry the ball at speed like Madueke, taking opponents on with menacing purpose and confidence. This season, only one player in the Premier League—Jeremy Doku of Manchester City—has completed more carries into the box per 90 minutes. This data is based on tracking data supplied by app GeniusIQ. Isaksson-Hurst’s depiction of Madueke’s talent is visceral. For one, as 90min’s scouting report highlights, Madueke can nearly run with the ball at his feet as fast as he can without.
“Because a lot of players can run, but Noni is unbelievable in terms of ball-carrying ability at speed,” – Isaksson-Hurst
This rare combination of speed, skill and power makes Madueke a nightmare challenge for any defender. Madueke’s style cuts a different path from perennial favorite Bukayo Saka. He will need to be more consistent in delivering results. Arteta has set out in front of him the challenge of keeping those performance levels high over the course of a long stretch.
“We need to have those standards and play consistently,” – Arteta
After an electric, man-of-the-match performance against Club Brugge, Arteta emphasized the necessity to build on playing at a high level on a consistent basis. He stressed the crux of the challenge isn’t so much about delivering just once, but instead doing it again and again over the course of several weeks.
“It’s not a game; it’s two games, three games. Can you do it for 10 games in a row, every three days? That’s the level we have to hit,” – Arteta
Madueke’s rise at Arsenal is truly, truly impressive, particularly in the wake of some understandable early doubts from fans about his big transfer fee. He’s swiftly done away with naysayers with his commanding displays on the field. On Sunday he scored three goals without touching the ball in the opponent’s box. On top of that, he personally produced help for his teammates with four more goals!
For all his attacking talents, Madueke’s throwback versatility impresses his teams’ willingness to use him everywhere. He has done good work on either side of the pitch. This not only opens up new tactical avenues for Arsenal, but generally raises the attacking ceiling of the Gunners.
“That combination of speed and technique on the ball, and obviously power as well, is very difficult for defenders to deal with,” – Isaksson-Hurst
He had only just regained full fitness in time to enjoy the subsequent successful spell at PSV Eindhoven. After working hard with his personal coach, he was able to score six goals in his first eight matches of the season. That focus on personal growth has easily flipped into his performances for Arsenal.
Madueke remains focused on continuing to develop himself, even in a loaded environment headlined by established talents such as Saka. He’s determined to leave a legacy in the sport. Arteta insists that individual magic is integral to coming out on top in tight, high-pressure encounters.
“I think at this level, if you want to win games, you need individual players to step up and to do something different,” – Arteta
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