Several Arsenal players have proved people wrong over the years.
Kai Havertz was viewed as a guaranteed flop, but people can’t wait to have him back now. Gabriel Magalhaes was seen as too aggressive, but he was arguably the best centre-back in the world before he got injured.
A lot was said when Mikel Arteta signed David Raya to replace Aaron Ramsdale as well, but the Arsenal boss was proven right on that occasion too.
Now, it has happened again with Noni Madueke, and Paul Merson has admitted his mistake.
What do you think Enzo Maresca is saying to Chelsea right now about Noni Madueke’s sale?
Paul Merson says he has changed his mind about Arsenal star Noni Madueke
Many Arsenal fans were not happy when their club signed Madueke.
A lot of the frustration was down to the fact that he was another player coming from Chelsea, but some people took it too far by signing a petition to block the move.
Arteta ignored all of them and signed Madueke, and the England international has been fantastic in the famous red and white.
Every time he has played on the right wing, the former Chelsea man has been a huge threat and has impressed everyone.
After Wayne Rooney admitted he was wrong about Madueke, Merson has just done the same.
He said on Sky Sports: “I think he has been absolutely outstanding. I’m a big Chelsea fan, and if there was one player I would have sold at the start of the season from Chelsea, it would have been him.
“I’ve never seen him hardly have one good game with Chelsea. He never went past players. He was very hot and cold.
“But since he’s been at Arsenal, he’s been a revelation, he’s been absolutely unbelievable. They play in different ways. Arsenal play a lot quicker; they get the ball to the wingers, and they get them to try and have a go.
“In 1-on-1, I think he’s one of the best about, if I’m being honest. He is one of the best wingers. If you give him the ball in a 1-on-1 situation, he doesn’t mess about. He’s not fussed about doing tricks. He’s very direct, he runs at real pace. When you are a defender, you do not want people running at you at pace. You don’t have to do too much.
“Very rarely, he stops the ball. He gets the ball and goes bang, that way, like Salah. People can’t tackle you when you’re doing that. I think he has been absolutely outstanding. I got it horribly wrong.”
Prove me wrong: The future of Arsenal is Noni Madueke on the right and Bukayo Saka on the left.
Noni Madueke’s next objective at Arsenal is clear
Madueke deserves a lot of praise for the way he has performed since joining Arsenal.
Merson is right, the winger has shown a lot more quality under Arteta than he did at Chelsea, which again proves that the Arsenal manager was right.
However, Madueke still has a lot to do, and his next step should be to increase his end product.
As good as the 23-year-old has been, he has only scored three goals in 12 games. He’s yet to provide an assist in Arsenal’s colours as well.
That needs to improve in the coming games. If it does, he will become one of the best wingers in the Premier League.
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