Ally McCoist is backing Noni Madueke to start ahead of Bukayo Saka for both Arsenal and England following his recent form.
Madueke scored and assisted against Leeds at the weekend after taking Saka’s place in the team at Elland Road.
TRUE or False: Noni Madueke has stolen Bukayo Saka’s starting spot for Arsenal… 👀
Saka was injured in the warm-up ahead of the clash in West Yorkshire, but Madueke proved exactly why Mikel Arteta signed him last summer.
Now, Madueke is being backed to start over Saka based on current form, with the latter having struggled over recent weeks.
Noni Madueke has taken Bukayo Saka’s Arsenal spot
Noni Madueke has now taken Bukayo Saka’s spot for both Arsenal and England, according to Ally McCoist.
The former Scottish international claims that Madueke is more likely to produce a match-winning moment right now.
“Yes, right now, if there were a game tomorrow, if England were playing a quarter-final, semi-final, any tournament, I’m starting him all day,” McCoist told TalkSPORT.
“I need to balance it by telling you that Saka hasn’t done an awful lot wrong. I think he’s tremendous. I love Saka, but I just think at this moment in time, Madueke has got a greater chance of winning you a game than anybody else, maybe in the team at this moment in time.”
Where does Bukayo Saka rank alongside these wingers?
Would you swap Saka for any of them? 👀
Saka hasn’t scored a Premier League goal since December 3, and has been warned by Alan Shearer that he must change if the Gunners hope to win the title.
However, Saka’s form now totally justifies Arteta’s decision to sign Madueke, which was heavily scrutinised in the summer.
Madueke means the pressure is now off Saka to perform each week and gives him the chance to rest, but now, he must also up his game if he hopes to win his Arsenal spot back.
Mikel Arteta issues Bukayo Saka injury update
Arteta claims that Saka’s hip injury is ‘better’, but Arsenal will have to make a late call over his fitness before facing Chelsea.
Ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final, Arteta told the media: “Yeah, we have to wait. Today he was better, but we have to wait and see. Have a response and then make the decision.”
Madueke now looks set to start on the right wing against his former club.
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