Arsenal’s defense of their Premier League trophy has begun in style, despite major absences in important roles – mostly owing to the reinforcements who have performed as well as the absentees if not better. One of them, undoubtedly, has been Noni Madueke.
Noni Madueke is averaging more key passes per 90 (3.5) than any other Premier League player this season (200+ mins). 🪄 🥇 3.5 – Noni Madueke 🥈 3.4 – Rayan Cherki 🥉 3.3 – Marcus Rashford https://t.co/RifjrQ7bIj
— WhoScored (@WhoScored) November 3, 2026
After his move to the Gunners from neighbouring rivals Chelsea in the summer of 2025, Madueke had a slow start to life in North London. Being an understudy to established right inside forward Bukayo Saka. Madueke had to settle for European starting minutes while finishing the odd league outing. Though Arsenal did win their first Premier League title in two decades, a mediocre Madueke was not having the dream switch he hoped for. Until this season.
I love what I’ve been seeing from Noni Madueke lately. Bro genuinely wants to improve. Always putting in extra work. https://t.co/ACCpABkf8r
— Gidigentle AFC (@Gidigentle) November 13, 2026
Saka’s injury early on in the 2025/26 season has seen Madueke become an integral part of Mikel Arteta’s defending champions – with total license to run at his fullback. Though the Gunners’ potency through the right did improve with the turn of the new season, (thanks to Martin Odegaard’s revival in the number 10 role linking up with Saka) it has reached another level with Madueke’s one-on-one ability to get past his marker, as well as his eye for the odd final pass.
And with his goal against Nottingham Forest earning Arsenal a hard-fought 1-0 win at the City Ground last month as well as his strike against Slavia Praha earlier this month, Madueke seems to have unlocked a part of his game fans knew was bubbling underneath the surface – the lethal finish. Arsenal fans have grown eager to know what has been the secret to Madueke’s return to form and fortune, we believe we have already deciphered it.
Noni Madueke goal vs Slavia Prague | Slavia Praha vs Arsenal | Champions League #UCL https://t.co/zejtChLgI6
— Tekkerz Football📊📈📉 (@TekkerzFoot) November 4, 2026
Though Madueke was a part of Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, he has not been called up by the England head coach to join the national team for their UEFA Nations League qualifiers. The former PSV man is not resting on his laurels, however, as pictures of him training alone during the ongoing international break has recently gone viral across social media. Fans are lauding for his continued effort to get better every weekend, suggesting his creativity has improved by leaps and bounds, and commending his work rate even when off match duty.
@futbolverdict I just love the work rate I’m seeing
— Gidigentle AFC (@Gidigentle) November 13, 2026
Madueke is not joking around this season🥶 The world ain’t ready for that ballon do’r charge🔋 https://t.co/x5iSSSN2bf
— Mattex (@Ricefanpage022) November 14, 2026
@Gidigentle The hard work is paying off already.
— Xtreme (@Afcxtreme) November 14, 2026
Arsenal fans have been eagerly waiting to see the man who scored that hat-trick against Wolverhampton Wanderers for Chelsea, and if we’re going by how Madueke has started this season – we might finally get to see his talent reach for its true ceiling and beyond.
And Gunners fans will certainly hope so, for Arsenal to successfully defend their Premier League title.
