Latest news with #NoniMadueke
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'I'm very happy with what he is doing'
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he "always wants better" from his players but is "very happy" with forward Gabriel has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League this summer after an injury-hit campaign in which he started 25 Premier League games and managed eight Gunners have strengthened in wide areas with the addition of Noni Madueke from Chelsea."With all our front players, I think they are very dependent on the environment we create around them," Arteta said before Sunday's pre-season friendly against Newcastle in Singapore."We always want better and more from every single player. I think Gabi has performed very well and very consistently in the past three or four seasons. "Last year, he had the bad injury that he picked up and he missed a lot of games - but I'm very happy with what he is doing with us."The Gunners are close to confirming the signing of Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres and Arteta says he will be flexible in choosing his starting forwards next season."It is about impact and performance," he added. "How they are feeling, how their emotional state is, how their confidence is."Then as well, the connections you can generate in the team - who links better with who in what we want to achieve in that game and against the opponent that behaves in a particular way."That decision relates to that. Once someone is in the right moment and pushing the door full of confidence, for sure the manager is not going to stop them playing."
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Arsenal's Noni Madueke reclassified in Premier League records as ‘homegrown'
Arsenal forward Noni Madueke has been reclassified as a 'homegrown' player, the Premier League has confirmed to The Athletic. The 23-year-old, who joined Arsenal from Chelsea last week, had previously been listed in the west London club's squad list as recently as February as a non-homegrown player. Advertisement But the Premier League has since updated Madueke's status internally after a request was made before the end of the 2024-25 season. This means the £48.5million ($62.3m) signing will not need to be counted as one of the 17 non-homegrown players Arsenal are able to name in their 25-man Premier League squad. Premier League rules stipulate a homegrown player must have been registered to the Football Association or the FA of Wales for three entire seasons before the end of the season in which they turn 21. Madueke moved to Dutch Eredivisie side PSV from Tottenham Hotspur aged 16 in 2018 and remained there until January 2023, when he joined Chelsea two months before his 21st birthday. The Premier League has confirmed, however, that he spent at least the required three seasons in Tottenham's youth setup, despite not making a first-team appearance. It is thought that the lack of first-team appearances is where the discrepancy in the Premier League's records arose. So, according to the Premier League's own documentation, for most of the 2024-25 season at Stamford Bridge, he was taking up a non-homegrown spot in Chelsea's registered squad. The previous season, he was registered as an Under-21 player. Though Madueke is seen as homegrown by Premier League regulations, UEFA rules differ. Arsenal, who will compete in the 2025-26 Champions League, must submit two squad lists to UEFA: List A (the main squad) and List B (players born on or after January 1, 2004, who have been eligible to play for the club for an uninterrupted period of two years since turning 15). UEFA rules state that eight players in List A must be 'locally trained players', which it defines as a player trained by their club (or another club in the same national association) for at least three years between the ages of 15 and 21. Madueke, therefore, cannot be named as one of the eight locally trained players for UEFA competitions due to his time spent in the Netherlands.
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
‘I didn't like it' – Declan Rice warns Arsenal fans Noni Madueke will ‘shock' you as he disagrees with transfer reaction
DECLAN RICE has told the Arsenal doubters: Noni Madueke will 'shock' you. The Gunners' £52m summer capture of Madueke from Chelsea has sparked a volatile online response, with over 5,000 fans signing a #NoToMadueke petition. 7 7 7 However, midfielder Rice has backed pal Madueke to silence the critics – claiming the 23-year-old winger will give Mikel Arteta's side an X-Factor and depth in attack they currently lack. Madueke is not with Arsenal on their pre-season tour of Singapore and Hong Kong – taking a rest following his Club World Cup involvement with the Blues – but is set to make his debut in the Emirates Cup next month. When asked what he thought of the negative reaction to Madueke's move, Rice said: 'I didn't like it, if I'm speaking honestly. But I know how driven he is. He's a really strong character. 'I've spoken to him and you're going to see what he's about this season. He's really, really proven. He wants to show everyone what he really can do. There's a hunger inside his belly. 'When you're an attacking player and in your mind the first thought you have is to go past your defender, that's an unbelievable trait to have. 'He's going to bring that to the squad along with the other wingers we have. Let's be real, last year we hardly had any depth in any areas. 'We played half the season pretty much with so many injuries, so to be able to rotate and push in different competitions with different players is going to be key for us. 'I think he's going to shock a lot of people and I can't wait for him to come.' BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Rice formed a bond with Madueke during senior England camps, having previously interacted when they played for West Ham and Chelsea respectively. Rice continued: 'I met him as a person with England and was blown away by his personality and character. I don't think a lot of people would have him down as that. Arsenal fans convinced new transfer is done after star's 'message' in kit launch 'But he's one of those people who lifts the dressing room. He really cares about his football, has really high demands and that's what shocked me about him. 'Then seeing him up close on the training pitch, when he gets the ball he just wants to beat his man. He's so positive and direct. 'There's been a lot of talk around his signing but as football players and players that have played with him, we know the quality he has and we're really, really looking forward to having him come and play for us. It's a really good signing for us.' Upon signing last week, Madueke was seen reading a letter written by Rice, which said: 'Welcome to the Arsenal family. Noni, my brother. I'm buzzing for you to join the club. 7 'We've got an unbelievable group and everyone is looking forward to playing with you. Knowing you as a person and as a player, your arrival is going to be a big statement. 'I know you're going to be incredible for us. You have so many qualities already and so much capacity to keep growing with us. Looking forward to seeing you in person and if you need anything, shout me. Big love, bro. Dec.' Rice explained: 'When the club came to me and came up with the idea, I said I would love to write a letter for him. He messaged me about it saying that he really, really appreciates it. 'It was just a nice little touch for him to join the club and feel welcome. When he signed, he had like 10 or 11 people with him. The excitement, it's a good thing. 'He's hungry, he wants to play for Arsenal and that's the type of player we want. Trust me when I say the boys are really looking forward to it. 'People have been speaking internally, the players, the staff. We know the player that we're getting and we're really looking forward to having him at our club. 'It's going to be really exciting.' Meanwhile, Rice has also vowed to hit the ground running this season after admitting he was 'nowhere near the levels' at the start of last term, struggling mentally to come to terms with the Three Lions' Euro 2024 final defeat followed by only having 16 days off. The 26-year-old looked well rested and back to full fitness during a 66-minute cameo in Singapore as Arsenal beat AC Milan 1-0 on Wednesday, having played through the pain barrier at times last year with a broken toe. Rice – who scored seven goals in all competitions in 2025 – said: 'It is the first time in a long time that I'm getting a full pre-season and I actually got a month off. It's massive for me. 7 7 7 'I'm putting really big demands on myself this year. I'm really trying to push myself because at the back-end of the season I finished really, really strong. 'At the start of the season last year I was nowhere near the level that I require of myself. I put it down to a few things. The Euros final was mentally really tough. 'Having 16 days off, going straight back into a Premier League season. It was really, really hard. It took me a few months to get going again but now I feel really fit, really strong. 'I'm going to set myself some really good targets that I want to try and hit: more goals, more assists, impact the games more. 'Not just do it at the back end of the season, do it in a full season. The best players in the world do that. 'They want to try and push themselves and that's what I'm trying to do and the manager is certainly on me to do that as well.'
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Rice 'didn't like' Madueke signing backlash
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice says he "didn't like" the reaction online from some fans about the signing of Noni Madueke from Chelsea, but backed the winger to "shock" with his 23, joined for an initial £48.5m last week as Arsenal look to increase their attacking the signing caused a backlash, with the hashtag #NoToMadueke posted across social media, and a petition started which had more than 5,000 signatures."I know how driven he is," Rice said after Arsenal's 1-0 pre-season win over AC Milan in Singapore. "I've spoken to him and you're going to see what he's about this season. He wants to prove and show everyone what he really can do."He's hungry, he wants to play for Arsenal and that's the type of players we want. It's so positive."He's going to shock a lot of people and I can't wait for him to come."People have been speaking internally - the players, the staff. We know the player that we're getting and we're really looking forward to having him at our club. It's going to be really exciting." 'That's an unbelievable trait to have' Rice wrote a letter to Madueke when he signed for Arsenal, and the winger was seen reading some of it during the transfer announcement video that Arsenal posted across their said the club came up with the idea and it was "a nice little touch for him to join the club and feel welcome", and Madueke had "messaged me about it, saying that he really, really appreciates it".Madueke has been signed to support Bukayo Saka on the right wing and to challenge Gabriel Martinelli for his starting role on the left-hand has been a regular for Chelsea over the past two seasons, scoring 20 goals in 92 Gunners have struggled to break down teams that defend deep against them at times and Madueke's ability to beat his defender is seen a huge boost to the squad as they look to win a trophy this season after coming so close in previous campaigns."When you're an attacking player and in your mind the first thought you have is to go past your defender, that's an unbelievable trait to have," Rice said about Madueke's ability."He's going to bring that to the squad along with the other wingers we have. Let's be real - last year we hardly had any depth in any areas."We played half the season pretty much with so many injuries, so to now be able to rotate and push in different competitions with different players is going to be really, really good. That's key for us." Rice ready to score more goals Arsenal have been active in the transfer market and have completed deals for Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga, with Cristhian Mosquera and Viktor Gyokeres expected to follow finished the season playing for Arsenal as a more advanced number eight and, with the signings of Norgaard and Zubimendi, it is expected that is where he will continue playing for the Gunners."I think the manager now sees me as a box-to-box player and I think at the back end of last season, off the back of Christmas, I showed fully what I can do in that position and I really kicked on."Rice scored nine goals and registered 10 assists in all competitions for Arsenal last season and is looking to better those numbers this campaign."I'm putting really big demands on myself this year," he said. "I'm really trying to push myself because the back end of the season I finished really, really strong."At the start of the season last year I was nowhere near the level that I require of myself."I put it down to a few things - the back of the Euros final was mentally really tough, having 16 days off, going straight back into a Premier League season."More goals. More assists. Impact the games more. Not just do it at the back end of the season; do it in a full season and set myself some numbers."I think the best players in the world do that. They want to try and push themselves and that's what I'm trying to do and the manager is certainly on me to do that as well."
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Arsenal's Declan Rice on ‘big demands' he's making of himself, and Noni Madueke proving people wrong
Declan Rice has backed new Arsenal signing Noni Madueke to overcome any doubters, and believes the former Chelsea winger 'will shock a lot of people'. The signing of Madueke for an initial £48.5million ($65.8m) prompted significant debate among Arsenal fans, with over 5,000 of them voicing their dissent via an online petition. Advertisement Speaking to reporters after Wednesday's 1-0 pre-season win over Milan in Singapore, Rice took a dim view of that reaction — and suggested fellow England international Madueke has the talent and personality to thrive nonetheless. 'There's obviously been a lot of talk around his signing,' says Rice. 'I didn't like it, if I'm speaking honestly. But I know how driven he is. I've spoken to him and you're going to see what he's about this season. As football players, and players that have played with him, we know the quality he has. 'He's so driven, and he's proven. He wants to prove, and show everyone, what he can do and I think you're going to see that. There's a hunger inside his belly. 'When he signed, he had like 10 or 11 people with him — that excitement, it's a good thing. He's hungry, He wants to play for Arsenal, and those are the type of players we want. It's so positive. I think he's going to shock a lot of people, and I can't wait for him to come.' When Madueke completed his move across London, Rice wrote him a letter welcoming him to Arsenal. 'It was just a nice little touch for him to join the club and feel welcome,' says Rice. 'Trust me when I say the boys are really looking forward to it. People have been speaking internally — the players, the staff. We know the player that we're getting and we're looking forward to having him at our club. It's going to be exciting.' Rice first encountered Madueke with previous club West Ham, lining up against the winger in just the latter's second game for Chelsea in February 2023, shortly after his move from Dutch club PSV. 'Then I met him as a person with England and was blown away by his personality and character,' says Rice. 'I don't think a lot of people would have him down as that but he's one of those people who lifts the dressing room. He really cares about his football, has high demands, and that's what shocked me about him. Advertisement 'Then, seeing him up close on the training pitch, when he gets the ball, he just wants to beat his man. He's so positive and direct. When you're an attacking player and in your mind the first thought you have is to go past your defender, I think that's an unbelievable trait.' Rice believes Madueke, along with the other summer signings — which include Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard and Kepa Arrizabalaga — will add vital depth to Arsenal's squad as they push to finish the coming season with major silverware, ending a drought that extends back to the 2019-20 FA Cup. 'Let's be real, last year we hardly had any depth in any areas,' he says. 'We played half the season, pretty much, with so many injuries, so to now be able to rotate and push in different competitions with different players is going to be really good. That's key for us.' Rice has also set high expectations for his own performance levels in 2025-26, and says the benefit of a full pre-season has been 'massive' for him. 'I'm putting really big demands on myself this year,' he explains. 'I'm trying to push myself because, the back-end of the season, I finished strong. 'At the start of the season last year, I was nowhere near the level that I require of myself. I put it down to a few things. Coming off the back of the Euros final (with England) was mentally tough. Having 16 days off, going straight back into a Premier League season — it was really hard. 'It took me a few months to get going again. But now I'm getting a full pre-season, I feel really fit, strong, and I'm going to try and kick off the season strong.' The win over Milan saw manager Mikel Arteta hand first appearances to Norgaard and Zubimendi. Their arrivals would appear to confirm that Rice will continue in his more advanced midfield role as a No 8. 'I have the capacity to play No 6 if needed, but we obviously have Zubimendi, who we've signed, and Norgaard, who have been incredible,' he says. 'The manager sees me as a box-to-box player. At the back-end of last season, off the back of Christmas, I showed fully what I can do in that position and kicked on. There's so much room for growth in that area for me. 'I'm looking forward to the season and have set myself some good targets that I want to try and hit: more goals, more assists, impact the games more — not just do it at the back-end of the season, do it in a full season and set myself some numbers.' Rice believes that after a full summer of preparation, he can be ambitious in what he asks of himself. 'The best players in the world do that,' the 26-year-old says. 'They want to try and push themselves. 'That's what I'm trying to do — and the manager is certainly on me to do that as well.'
