Arsenal have a really strong squad right now.
The Gunners have been among the best teams in the Premier League over the last three seasons, but they have always lacked quality depth.
That has changed now, thanks to Andrea Berta, who has completed six new signings already in this window.
Viktor Gyokeres is Arsenal’s biggest signing, and opposition defenders will have their hands full when they come up against him.
However, there is another player who people will hate to play against, says Mikel Arteta.
Mikel Arteta says he wouldn’t want to play against Noni Madueke
Noni Madueke made his Arsenal debut against Villarreal on Wednesday.
The Englishman joined the Gunners from Chelsea in a £52 million deal last month, and his transfer caused major debate among the fan base
Many Arsenal fans were against the signing of Madueke – mainly because he was coming from Chelsea.
However, Arteta was adamant that he wanted the 23-year-old, and he gave him his first opportunity in the famous red and white at the Emirates on Wednesday.
Madueke only came on as a substitute late in the game. He couldn’t do much in the time he had, but he showed his ability to whip crosses into the box from the left flank.
Arteta really liked that, and the Arsenal manager claimed after the game that he would hate to play against Madueke if he was an opponent.
When asked where Madueke would fit in, he said, as per Arsenal.com: “Both sides. I think Noni, when you ask him, he’s very comfortable playing right and left, so if we want to have inverted footed players, we can do that.
“He’s a real threat, I wouldn’t want to play against him, and when we want to find something else and play with natural-footed players, he’s going to give us that solution.
“Today, you’ve already seen a couple of balls that he put in the box, the pace and the quality he can deliver. So, great option.”
Viktor Gyokeres will love playing with Noni Madueke for one key reason
Gyokeres would’ve been frustrated with Gabriel Martinelli in the game against Villarreal.
The Brazilian is a terrific player, but everything he did when he got the ball on the left flank was very predictable. That allowed Villarreal’s defenders to cut off service to Gyokeres from that side of the pitch.
Madueke is a lot trickier than Martinelli, and his ability in 1v1 situations is arguably better than any other Arsenal player right now.
We think the former Chelsea man will play a lot of games on the left wing for Arsenal this season, and when he does, Gyokeres will have multiple opportunities to score thanks to Madueke’s balls into the box.
That will bring the best out of the Swede.
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