‘Arsenal leave Noni Madueke at home after he cut holiday short to go on Asia tour’
Arsenal have left Noni Madueke out of their pre-season tour of Asia despite cutting his holiday short after completing his transfer from Chelsea.
The 23-year-old’s move to the Gunners sparked uproar within the North London club’s fanbase, and a petition on change.org received over 5,000 signatures calling for his transfer to be cancelled.
The signing of yet another Chelsea player has not gone down well with memories of Raheem Sterling’s miserable loan spell fresh in the memory from last season.
Supporters of the club have been yearning for a new striker after Mikel Merino was used as a makeshift number nine last season.
Viktor Gyokeres looks likely to join Arsenal, but that transfer remains complicated due to issues between the striker, his agent, and his current club Sporting CP being unable to agree on a suitable fee for the former Coventry City forward.
Despite the pressure from their vocal fanbase, Arsenal pushed through and completed Madueke’s signing on 18 July and Mikel Arteta called the England international “one of the most talented wide forward players in the Premier League” [Arsenal].
However, despite becoming the Gunners’ seventh most expensive transfer of all time, the former Chelsea man will not join up with his new team for their pre-season tour of Asia, The Athletic reports.
Noni Madueke cuts short holiday
As reported, Madueke was on holiday following the Club World Cup (CWC) and his move to Arsenal, but the winger cut short his break.
The 23-year-old was “eager” to join the North London clubs’ pre-season trip to Singapore and Hong Kong.
However, Arsenal urged their winger to “get some rest”, as they want him “recharged and mentally fresh” before the start of the 2025/26 season.
Madueke has been convinced to take a two-week break, but he will still have access to one of the Gunners’ strength and conditioning coaches whilst his teammates are abroad.
Arsenal trying to match Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea
Football Insider Verdict
Arsenal’s rivals have wasted little time in adding to their squads this summer.
Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, and Florian Wirtz have joined Liverpool, Man City have signed Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki, whilst Chelsea have spent in excess of £200million to bolster their squad.
The CWC necessitated Pep Guardiola and Enzo Maresca’s sides to spend early in the window, whilst the reigning Premier League champions were in competition with several European giants for their targets.
All of these deals shone a spotlight on Arsenal’s sluggish start to the transfer window, but the Gunners are quickly catching up to their rivals.
Martin Zubimendi’s arrival represents a huge upgrade in midfield, and whilst Madueke’s transfer was not the most popular with a small and vocal minority of fans, the Englishman offers valuable versatility and cover for Arteta’s stars.