Madueke's move to Arsenal puts Arteta's "cool hands" to the test

Like a drummer in a metal band joining an orchestra, that's how winger Noni Madueke's arrival at Arsenal feels. Madueke is renowned for his explosive, spontaneous playing style, while the Arsenal squad is accustomed to a structured and highly organized system.

After facing significant opposition from Arsenal supporters, the transfer of Madueke from Chelsea was officially announced on Friday (18/7/2025) evening WIB. The England national team player was brought to Arsenal with a transfer package potentially worth 52 million pounds (Rp 1.13 trillion).

Madueke has signed a five-year contract with Arsenal, lasting until the summer of 2030. "I am someone who often follows my heart. So far, I feel I have been moving in the right direction. I am very happy to be here," he said about moving to another London team.

The 23-year-old winger is not actually the typical type of player for Arsenal under manager Mikel Arteta. "The Gunners" have always relied on a collective system. They are very patient and structured in breaking down the opponent's defense. The players prefer to bypass opponents with passes rather than dribbling.

Madueke is quite different. When there is an opportunity to get past an opponent, he does not hesitate to dribble the ball. His speed and dribbling skills are his greatest assets. He can create chances with his individual ability, single-handedly, from both flanks simultaneously.

Without further ado, Madueke explained his strengths in his first interview with the Arsenal media team. "I only think of one thing when I get the ball or space, which is to dribble and get past the opponent. That is clearly my main strength," he stated.

Arteta stated that Madueke is one of the most talented wingers in the English League. This is evidenced by the player's impressive statistical record in offensive aspects. Madueke consistently provides sparks when his team is trapped in a deadlock.

According to Opta, Madueke had the most shots after dribbling (1.6) per 90 minutes in the 2024-25 Premier League season and the second-most touches in the opposition penalty area (8.8). Among wingers, he had the most shots (3.5).

The statistics illustrate the initiative and involvement of the player in the attacking line. Various records in this aspect surpass some of the best wingers in the league, such as Mohamed Salah from Liverpool and Bukayo Saka, who will be his teammate at Arsenal.

It is understandable that Arteta praises Madueke highly. "Noni is an exciting and resilient young player, with consistently high performance and statistics over the past few seasons. At just 23 years old, he already has experience at both club and international levels," said Arteta.

Still raw

The problem is that Madueke's contribution is relatively low despite such brilliant statistics. He only contributed seven goals and four assists from 35 matches in the league last season. Saka, who was absent for three months due to injury, was able to contribute to 16 goals for Arsenal.

Madueke is skilled at creating opportunities and momentum for attacks, but he is unreliable in finishing them. This issue leads to two outcomes: poor decision-making or a subpar final product. Looking at last season, both factors influenced each other.

Madueke often forces shots in the midst of opposing players, as seen during the match against Liverpool last May. He has also had several opportunities in front of the goal, but his shots have either gone wide of the goal or been too weak.

The weaknesses of the former PSV Eindhoven player present a homework assignment for Arteta. The manager is known as an expert in player development. Arteta has proven capable of making star players better than before. An example is England national team midfielder Declan Rice.

Rice has become a "number 8" midfielder who more frequently advances into the penalty area, as opposed to the previous "number 6" defensive midfielder role. As a result, Rice has contributed 16 goals and 20 assists at Arsenal over two seasons. This figure surpasses his contributions at West Ham United over eight years.

Learning from the bitter experience of last season, Arsenal needs a different figure like Madueke. Their attack, which is too orderly, has become predictable to opponents. Saka and his teammates always struggle when facing weaker teams that defend very deeply. In such moments, they lack a player who can disrupt the opponent's comfort.

Madueke has the potential to be a game-changer in Arsenal's attacking line. However, before discussing alternative strategies, Arteta must first address the player's issues. If not, there are concerns that Madueke may end up being just a weed in the flower garden. (AP/AFP)