‘Chelsea squad mock trophy-less Arsenal players over Noni Madueke’s medal’
Chelsea players have joked at Arsenal’s expense after Noni Madueke missed out on the Blues’ Club World Cup triumph ahead of a move to the Emirates Stadium.
Enzo Maresca’s side brushed Champions League winners PSG aside in New Jersey on Sunday (13 July) with an emphatic 3-0 win to be crowned as the newly revamped and expanded tournament’s first ever winners.
Most of their stars were on show as Chelsea cruised to victory thanks to Cole Palmer’s heroics, but Madueke was back in England and not celebrating with his teammates as he nears a move to capital rivals Arsenal this summer.
Former scout Mick Brown told Football Insider back in April that Chelsea were set to accept offers for Madueke ahead of the new season amid interest from Arsenal, and he recently revealed to Football Insider that the Gunners were set to step up their efforts to sign Madueke with a formal offer for his services.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano reported on 9 July that Mikel Arteta’s side had submitted a £50million bid to Chelsea for his services, and Madueke is now set to undergo his Arsenal medical on Monday (14 July) ahead of a £52m move [Sky Sports].
Chelsea players poke fun at Arsenal’s recent lack of silverware
Madueke featured as the Blues won the Conference League against Real Betis in May, but he was missing from Sunday’s final after Maresca confirmed pre-match that he was “in contact with the new club” and so not set to be in the Chelsea squad.
The game itself could not have gone much better for the West London outfit, and they certainly did not miss the 23-year-old at all, who may be somewhat regretting the timing of his move.
The Mail have now reported that Madueke is expected to be mailed a CWC winners’ medal after making five appearances in the tournament, but the inside joke between some Chelsea players is that he could show it to some of his new Gunners team-mates because they have never seen one.
The North London side’s last taste of silverware came when they won the FA Cup in 2020 against Chelsea, and just two players from that day’s starting eleven and bench still play for the club – Bukayo Saka and Reiss Nelson.
Madueke could struggle for game-time at Arsenal
Football Insider verdict
Chelsea have been willing to let Madueke leave should the right fee arrive, according to former scout Brown, and it looks as if it is only a matter of time until this transfer is confirmed with a figure agreed and just a medical now needing to be completed.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 92 | 20 | 9 |
He is surely set to be behind England teammate Saka in the pecking order for minutes on the right-wing at the Emirates, though, and you would imagine he needs ample game-time in the upcoming season to remain in Thomas Tuchel’s plans for the 2026 World Cup.
Jamie Gittens’ arrival at Stamford Bridge from Borussia Dortmund has seemingly forced him out, however, and so he could be in line for more minutes at Arsenal anyway, even if he has to settle for a back-up role.
A move to the Gunners might not be the best from a personal standpoint, and maybe also considering their recent trophy record compared to Chelsea, but it certainly could be a lot worse considering their consistent recent title challenges and Champions League football being on offer.