Arsenal and Chelsea have been involved in a transfer, again.
The Gunners already signed Kepa Arrizabalaga from the Blues earlier in this window, and fans hoped that would be it this summer.
However, Arsenal have now agreed a deal to sign Noni Madueke from Chelsea, and although many supporters aren’t happy with this move, Mikel Arteta is over the moon.
It is the Arsenal boss who has been pushing for Madueke, and it looks like this deal will be done in the coming days.
Noni Madueke is a fine player.
Yes, Arsenal fans are not happy with the potential signing, but we think the anger is directed more towards bringing in another Chelsea player than towards Madueke himself.
As a backup to Bukayo Saka, Madueke makes a lot of sense, and that is probably why Arsenal have tabled such a big offer — £52 million — to sign him.
Fabrizio Romano has now claimed that Arteta has been the driving force behind the Gunners’ move to sign the 23-year-old England international.
The journalist also claimed that Chelsea gave Arteta authorisation to speak to Madueke even before a fee was agreed between the two clubs.
The Arsenal manager liked what he heard, and he is now about to sign Madueke.
Romano said in a video on his YouTube channel: “Mikel Arteta. Don’t forget Mikel Arteta. Because my understanding is that internally, Mikel Arteta has been pushing for this deal for Noni Madueke.
“I can reveal to you that Mikel Arteta already spoke to the player. It already happened in recent days, even before they reached an agreement, with authorisation, of course, to explain the project and the vision.
“Arteta was very happy about the feedback he had about Noni Madueke. So, they were pushing to get this done as soon as possible, and they did it.”
Arteta has made several signings at Arsenal over the last five-and-a-half years.
The Gunners boss has definitely improved almost every player he has brought in, but just six of his signings have been attackers.
Out of the above names, you can argue that Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard are the only deals that have worked out, which is not a great look at all.
Arsenal fans are dreading that Madueke will be another Raheem Sterling-like signing, but Arteta seems adamant that he will be a success.
Only time will tell how Madueke will fare at Arsenal.
