It’s been a wild ride for Noni Madueke since arriving at Arsenal. From a fan petition trying to block his £48.5m transfer from Chelsea to helping the Gunners end a 22-year Premier League title drought, the 24-year-old hasn’t had a quiet moment in north London.
Now, his personal trainer has entered the conversation, and he’s not holding back.
From Petitions to Premier League Glory
Remember when over 5,000 Arsenal fans signed a Change.org petition titled #NOTOMADUEKE? That actually happened. Some supporters were furious at the club for spending big on a Chelsea winger instead of pursuing “flashier” targets like Rodrygo.
Mikel Arteta didn’t flinch. He pushed ahead with the deal and later said the backlash gave him “more conviction and more will” to make the move work.
Fast forward to May 2026. Arsenal are Premier League champions for the first time since the Invincibles era. Madueke played his part across 26 league appearances, chipping in with three goals and an assist while covering for Bukayo Saka during injury absences.
Not bad for a player thousands of fans didn’t want.
“People Love to Hate Him for Some Reason”
Speaking on talkSPORT, Madueke’s personal skills coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst didn’t sugarcoat things. He called the criticism unfair and pointed to Madueke’s relentless drive to improve.
“He’s still a developing player. He wants to get better,” Isaksson-Hurst said. “But you look at the Premier League, there aren’t many more direct wide players than Noni.”
Then came the kicker: “People love to hate him for some reason.”
It’s hard to argue with the directness point. During his final season at Chelsea, no winger in the Premier League averaged more progressive carries per 90 minutes than Madueke. His willingness to run at defenders, take shots, and force one-on-one situations separates him from safer wide options.
Isaksson-Hurst isn’t some random voice, either. He’s the founder of My Personal Football Coach, a former academy coach at Chelsea and Tottenham, and has worked with other Premier League talents like:
- Antoine Semenyo (Bournemouth)
- Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace)
- Folarin Balogun
World Cup Proof
If the domestic season didn’t settle the argument, Madueke’s World Cup performances should carry weight. Thomas Tuchel selected him in England’s starting XI against Croatia in their tournament opener, and the Arsenal man delivered.
He completed 94% of his passes, created two chances, and won the penalty that Harry Kane converted. No goal or assist on the scoresheet, but he was comfortably one of England’s best players on the pitch that night.
With Saka managing a fitness concern, Madueke has provided Tuchel with a genuine right-wing alternative rather than a drop-off in quality.
What the Numbers Actually Say
Let’s be honest — the criticism isn’t entirely unfounded. Three goals and one assist across a full Premier League season won’t blow anyone away.
But context matters. Madueke missed roughly two months with a knee injury sustained in September. His first Arsenal goal came in a Champions League win over Bayern Munich in November. He didn’t score in the league until January’s 4-0 victory against Leeds.
He’s not the finished article. Nobody in his camp is claiming otherwise. That’s precisely the point Isaksson-Hurst is making. At 24, Madueke sits at a stage where improvement is expected, not an exception.
Arsenal fans wanted a Saka backup for years. They got one who helped deliver a title, earned a World Cup spot, and still has room to grow. The petition crowd might not admit it, but Arteta got this one right.
