Arsenal's striker search is going nowhere – the Gunners should halt that hunt and swoop for Chelsea's Noni Madueke before he gets away
The Blues do not consider the England man untouchable, and he would tick a lot of boxes for the Gunners given their need for a versatile attacker
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Heading into the summer transfer window, it felt like the world knew exactly what Arsenal had up their sleeve. Manager Mikel Arteta had alluded to a need and know-how to fix their problems from the 2024-25 season, before laying out how Kai Havertz, injured for the final third of the campaign, needed further support up front.
So how have the Gunners conducted their business so far? Well, they barely have at all. A deal for Martin Zubimendi is in its closing stages despite late interest from Real Madrid, though the north Londoners were confident this one was wrapped up all the way back in mid-January and yet it still isn't official. Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to come in from Chelsea as backup to David Raya, their eighth goalkeeper signing of the Arteta era. The search for a new No.9, though, is still rumbling on despite being in the market for that position for nearly two years.
Amidst all that, Arsenal are also supposedly on the lookout for another winger, but this could perhaps be an area to strengthen with a market opportunity given how expensive most top quality players in that position. Last week, it was reported they are one of several teams keeping tabs on Noni Madueke, who too could be sold by Chelsea. This is the opening the Gunners have been waiting for.
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyChelsea's surplus of wingers
If the three years of this Chelsea ownership group have taught us anything, it's that you can never predict what BlueCo are going to do next. When Todd Boehly had control of transfers for a short period as interim sporting director, he sought to continue the work of Roman Abramovich's tenure, spending lavishly on proven superstars such as Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Once more of a structure was put in place – not necessarily a coherent one, but a structure nonetheless – the strategy pivoted to becoming a rich man's Brighton, casting the net wide to secure the game's premier young talent.
That's how Madueke ended up at Stamford Bridge. In January 2023, the Blues spent close to £100 million (€117m/$134m) on him and Mykhailo Mudryk to improve their options on the flanks. Two-and-a-half years on, Madueke is seemingly up for sale and Mudryk has been charged with doping offences.
Ahead of 2025-26, Chelsea will have Madueke, Pedro Neto and Palmeiras' teenage sensation Estevao Willian competing for minutes. They are also expected to restart talks with Borussia Dortmund over Jamie Gittens after the Club World Cup, while Cole Palmer has been tested on the right again as Enzo Maresca looks ahead to another lengthy season on multiple fronts. Given their propensity to conduct business erratically and without rhyme or reason, you can't rule out another winger coming through the Cobham doors this summer.
That, in part, is why Chelsea are a bit more open-minded about a Madueke sale than they were a few months ago. He isn't being forced out, but it appears increasingly likely they are heading towards a parting of ways. That feels a lot more plausible than beginning the new season as a starter.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportBetter than Palmer?
Right, there is a very short and simple answer to this question. No. Obviously not. There is no chance any logical supporter even thinks this is up for debate, mostly because it isn't.
However – and this is a big 'however' – do you reckon Madueke either thinks this right now, or at least thinks it could be true in the near future? The answer could be yes. You can argue that would be a sense of misplaced arrogance, but professional athletes are often wired different to the average human. And this isn't to put words in Madueke's mouth. This is all based in theory. It's a fun one, is it not? 'Does Madueke think he could be as good as or better than Palmer?' Come on, that's a doozie.
Personal football coach Saul Isaksson-Hurst, who has worked with Madueke for over four years, admitted in an interview with that the winger has tried to add bits of Mohamed Salah to his own game, and that his mindset is a massive asset.
"Noni has tremendous self-belief – and so he should," Isaksson-Hurst said. "He is one of the top young talents in world football but there is no arrogance there. He understands talent is nothing without hard work. He is also genuinely one of the nicest guys in football and very humble.
"I can only talk about my experience with Noni and I've said it many times before, I've never come across a more hard working and determined individual. This guy is a mentality monster."
(C)Getty imagesSlow striker search
Let's have a gander at what's going on in N5. Arsenal have made little progress in their bid to add a new striker to their squad. Though Viktor Gyokeres is said to prefer a move to the Gunners over Manchester United, dealmakers in north London are refusing to give in to Sporting CP's demands. Similarly, RB Leipzig are playing hardball over Benjamin Sesko, and there are also concerns over personal terms with the Slovenian.
In all likelihood, Arsenal will open 2025-26 with Havertz starting up front again, even if they do get in a new striker. That may be underwhelming, but it could be the best port of call, particularly given how tricky their first few Premier League fixtures are. They need to hit the ground running, and Havertz is a solid bet for double figures of goals as long as he stays fit.
In this day and age, you don't necessarily need the most prolific or traditional of No.9s in order to claim major honours. Liverpool leant on wide forward Salah and a rotating cast of other versatile attackers to win the Premier League. Paris Saint-Germain ended their Champions League hoodoo with touchline winger Ousmane Dembele in a central role. A frontline with Havertz in the middle of it finished only a point off the top in 2023-24. There is a blueprint for Arsenal to succeed without the a centre-forward being pivotal to their transfer plans.
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Getty Images SportWaiting for Rodrygo?
Arsenal fans' desperate plea for more goals and dynamism in attack has overlooked the possibility of a winger being their marquee signing this summer. Whoever that is doesn't even need to be on Salah's level either, rather combine the scoring instincts of a declining Leandro Trossard with the liveliness of a wasteful and one-dimensional Gabriel Martinelli.
Links to Rodrygo, who could leave Real Madrid, are continuing to linger as well. With the Gunners on the lookout for a player of both his skillset and calibre to take them to the next phase of their project, it feels like a no-brainer should the Brazil international actually hit the market. At this point, wage demands may also seem prohibitive, but at some point Arsenal are going to have to commit money to somebody.
There would be shades of Mesut Ozil in 2013 and Alexis Sanchez a year later about any Rodrygo swoop, except this time Arsenal are actually ready to compete for the game's most major of honours. Alas, it's a window of opportunity that has not yet opened and may not until the very end of the window, by which time the Gunners will be preparing for a massive early-season trip to Liverpool. They cannot afford to be chasing in another title race, given their rivals from Anfield have already added Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong to their ranks for a full pre-season.