Arsenal winger Noni Madueke has spoken of his desire to prove doubters wrong ahead of this weekend’s crunch tie against Chelsea.
Madueke moved to Arsenal in July for a fee reaching £52 million, cutting short his tenure at Stamford Bridge after just two and a half years.
Chelsea, having signed him for £28.5 million in January 2023, appeared willing to make a quick profit. This business-oriented approach prompted Madueke to explore his options and ultimately agree to a deal with Arsenal.
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A knee injury has hampered the England international’s start to life at his new club, but he made a significant impact by scoring his first goal for the Gunners in their midweek Champions League victory over Bayern Munich.
The goal served as an early response to those who had questioned the substantial transfer fee.
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Madueke fired up for Chelsea clash
“[Proving doubters wrong] was a little factor, for sure,” Madueke admitted to TNT Sports after the match, acknowledging that criticism fueled his determination.
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“I’m a confident player so I don’t really like anyone telling me that I can’t do something.”
He added: “But it’s my teammates and the staff, how they’ve taken to me and the belief they have in me [which is] the real reason I want to do my thing and give back, play really well and help us win trophies.”
When asked about the upcoming top-of-the-table clash against Chelsea on Sunday, Madueke hinted at a desire to make a statement against the team that let him go, but his public comments remained professional and focused.
“We will have to wait and see, it’s first vs. second, but they are a top team, we have a top team, so it will be a good game,” he said. “God willing, we get the result we want.”