Arsenal returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the Emirates, a win that Noni Madueke was at the heart of.
Madueke was fantastic for England during the September international break, drawing a lot of attention to Arsenal’s clash against Forest.
It was unsurprising to see the winger play so dangerously against Ange Postecoglou’s side, as he continued to fill in for Bukayo Saka on the right.
There’s been a lot of discourse about whether Madueke could impact Saka’s role in the Arsenal squad, a topic that the summer signing was asked about following the Gunners’ win.
Noni Madueke responds to Bukayo Saka competition question
Arsenal fans were blown away by Madueke’s performance against Forest, and rightly so, as the Englishman caused Morata countless problems.
The Gunners aren’t even remotely missing Saka, which says a lot about Madueke’s form, but how will Mikel Arteta handle things when the Hale End product returns?
Speaking to TNT Sports after the victory, Madueke downplayed his developing rivalry on the right side with Saka.
“You have top players everywhere in our squad, so we compete every day to try and make the team and the times we don’t, it’s about trying to impact the game off the bench.
“I don’t really think about all that stuff, I just try to play my game and leave it to what the manager decides.”
Madueke made it clear that he just wants to focus on how he can impress the manager, which he certainly did against Forest.
Some believe Arteta could play Saka on the left at some point during the season as competition grows, with the former Chelsea star’s form only making the prospect more imaginable.
Madueke was unplayable against Nottingham Forest
Against Forest, Madueke showed just how dangerous he can be, and exactly why Arteta and Andrea Berta worked rapidly to bring him to the club in the summer transfer window.
| Noni Madueke vs Nottingham Forest |
| 7 attempted dribbles |
| 4 successful dribbles |
| 5 key passes |
| 9 duel wins |
| 4 defensive actions |
Aside from wreaking havoc on the right side through his pace and dribbling technique, another stellar part of the winger’s performance was his creativity.
No one created more chances than Madueke during the contest, and no one won more duels than the forward either.
It was a remarkable showing from the England international, who is playing at a new level to give Arteta a headache when Saka returns.
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