Madueke answers back on Arsenal fan criticism on his signing and is eager for the upcoming Chelsea league game.
Madueke brushes off Arsenal fan criticism of his signing and gears up for Chelsea return.
According to Noni Madueke, he disregarded criticism on social media regarding his transfer to Arsenal and felt more confident as a result of the support he has received.
In his second appearance after making a comeback from a September knee injury, the England forward scored his first goal for Arsenal in Wednesday’s thrilling 3-1 Champions League victory over Bayern Munich. Given his strong start after signing from Chelsea for £48.5 million plus up to £3.5 million in bonuses, Madueke claimed that the injury was “horrible timing.”
A petition called #NOTOMADUEKE was started after some supporters expressed disapproval of his visit online. The 23-year-old claimed he had “taken it all in his stride” despite the fact that it only received 5,000 signatures.
“You are in the public eye, people can say whatever they want about you,” he said. “But being in the stadium, and how the fans have taken to me in the stadium, is unbelievable. I am not really worried about all of that. It is in the distant past. The last game versus Tottenham was incredible and that gives me such a boost. I play on the side of the pitch, I can feel them [the fans], I can hear them. When they are that positive about me it gives me a massive boost. Honestly, I am made up about it.”
Arsenal leads Chelsea by six points at the top of the Premier League going into Sunday’s match. Due to concerns over Leandro Trossard’s fitness following the Belgium forward’s hobbling off against Bayern, Madueke is in the running to start for the first time since the 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the end of September. Madueke said he felt at ease on either flank, but he wasn’t sure how the Chelsea fans would react to him.
“It might be a little bit hostile, it might not be, but I am a professional footballer,” he said. “I have played in loads of atmospheres. I don’t know if anything will faze me. I will just be focused on the task.”