Arsenal signed Noni Madueke from Chelsea in the summer and the winger scored his first goal for the Gunners in midweek ahead of his return to Stamford Bridge this weekend.
Noni Madueke insists he will have no problem dealing with any hostility on his first return to Chelsea as he prepares to return to Stamford Bridge with Arsenal.
The England winger moved across the capital in the summer after two years in Blue, but is currently excelling under Mikel Arteta. Maduke enjoyed the best moment of his Gunners career to date, scoring in Wednesday’s Champions League win against Bayern Munich.
He was part of Arsenal’s impressive front line, helping to take the north Londoners to the top of the Premier League. Although they have lost once yet, they will face second-placed Chelsea this weekend.
Madueke may be a target for Chelsea fans after joining their rivals in the summer, but he insists that dealing with difficult atmospheres is also part of the deal and this is not a new experience for him as he remains firmly focused on extending Arsenal’s lead.
“It may or may not be a bit hostile, but I’m a professional footballer. I’ve played in a lot of atmospheres. I don’t know if anything will upset me. I’ll just focus on my job. This game is not about me. This game is about Arsenal getting three more points in the league and getting closer to our goal.”
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When Arsenal first asked to sign Madueke for £48.5 million, even Madueke’s own fans didn’t want him. In July, a group of fans launched the #NoToMadueke campaign on social media, sparking widespread disapproval. But then he proved them wrong and definitely exceeded expectations.
Just a few months later, the 23-year-old insists he feels the love from Arsenal fans. “You’re in the public eye. People can say whatever they want about you,” he said. “But being in the stadium and the reaction of the fans in the stadium is incredible.”
He continued: “The last game against Tottenham was unbelievable and that gave me a lot of strength. I’m playing pitchside, I can feel them, I can hear their voices. When they are that positive about me, that gives me a big boost. To be honest, I’m good to go.”
Maduke’s goal against Bayern was his first for Arsenal. The Gunners already have a six-point lead at the top of the table and if results go well they could widen that lead as they look to end their 21-year wait for the Premier League title.
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