Noni Madueke had a tough start to life at Arsenal, before his transfer to the Emirates was even completed.
Having spent two and a half years at Chelsea, some Arsenal fans protested the idea of signing Madueke in the summer.
The scenes were ugly, but Mikel Arteta saw what Madueke could offer to his squad and worked quickly with Andrea Berta to complete the transfer.
Since his move, Madueke has proven that he can add a lot to Arsenal’s attack, leaving the supporters who protested against his transfer rather red-faced.
Noni Madueke opens up about his relationship with Arsenal fans
The discourse when Madueke was first linked was terrible, as fans on social media gathered to make their thoughts on the move known.
The discussion even reached the Arsenal squad, as after the winger’s transfer was completed, Declan Rice admitted that he really disliked the treatment Madueke received.
It was a social media matter, but away from the screens, the actual picture has been entirely different, as the 23-year-old just explained.
Speaking on The Dispatch, Arsenal’s official podcast, Madueke acknowledged that his relationship with fans was ‘a bit dicey’ at first.
“I think the culture around here is probably the best I’ve seen. And yeah, no, in terms of the supporters, it was a bit dicey at the start.
“It was a bit dicey at the start, but on social media and stuff, before I came to the club, but bro, when I’ve been in the stadium, I haven’t felt like fans, I haven’t felt that close to fans, to be honest, in the stadium.”
The uncalled-for harsh treatment of Madueke from Arsenal fans is a thing of the past, as if there’s anything the winger is feeling from supporters, it’s a lot of love.
Rio Ferdinand wanted Arsenal fans to apologise to Madueke
At just 23 years old, Arteta saw a player he could further develop in Madueke, who has left his doubters speechless since his transfer.
Things are rosy now, but the fans who were against the move are not going to be allowed to forget the way they treated the forward before he signed.
Rio Ferdinand urged Arsenal fans to apologise to Madueke after seeing the former Chelsea star impress in place of Bukayo Saka.
“The Arsenal fans are now salivating over him and going, oh, ‘we love him, he’s our saviour’.
“Those fans need to come out now, the ones who were the naysayers and negative guys, they need to come out and apologise and say sorry.”
The most important takeaway from the talking point is that Madueke is now feeling love at a level that he’s never felt, with his future in N5 looking so bright.
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