Paul Merson has been stunned by one ‘absolutely outstanding’ Arsenal star, having not rated the player prior to signing for Mikel Arteta’s team.
Arsenal travel to Everton on Saturday night knowing that victory will ensure that they will be top of the Premier League table at Christmas.
It’s been a great season for the Gunners so far, who are reaping the rewards of spending big in the summer, bolstering their squad with eight new players.
Among them was Noni Madueke, whose £52million switch from rivals Chelsea was met with hostility from Arsenal fans and there was even a petition – signed by thousands – demanding the club cancel the transfer.
The 23-year-old was good but not spectacular for the Blues, scoring 11 and assisting five in 46 appearances last season, with many pundits baffled by Arteta’s decision to sign him for such great expense.
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The England international has quickly proven the doubters wrong however, with the winger’s electric performances lighting up the Emirates and lessening the dependence on Bukayo Saka.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Arsenal hero and lifelong Chelsea fan Merson heaped praise on Madueke and admitted he was ‘horribly wrong’ about the forward.
He said: ‘If there’s one player I would have sold at the start of the season from Chelsea, it would have been him. I hardly saw him have a good game with Chelsea. He never went past players, very hot and cold.
‘But since he’s been at Arsenal, he’s been a revelation, he’s been absolutely unbelievable. Arsenal play a lot quicker, they get the ball out to the wingers and they can go and have a go.
‘1v1, I think he’s one of the best about, he’s one of the best wingers. If you give him the ball 1v1, he doesn’t mess about. He’s not fussed about doing tricks. He’s very direct, runs at real pace and when you’re a defender you do not want people running with you at pace.
‘He very rarely stops the ball, he gets the ball and he goes bang that way, like Mo Salah did, and people can’t tackle you when you’re doing that. He’s been absolutely outstanding. I got it horribly wrong!’
While he is yet to register a goal contribution in the Premier League, Madueke has found the back of the net three times in the Champions League, firing Arsenal to the top of the league phase table.
When everyone is fit, Madueke is behind Saka in the pecking order, but Merson believes the threat of both wingers in the squad significantly aids Arsenal’s chances of winning silverware.
Asked how a defender would react if he saw Madueke coming off the bench for Saka, Merson replied: ‘There’s nothing worse!
‘When you see someone’s number come up you think, “I’ve got rid of him”. And then all of a sudden someone else comes on who’s just very similar and fresh.
‘That’s what they needed. The next part of the season with the Champions League and the Premier League gets harder.
‘To swap players like-for-like, it’s very rare you can get that. Usually you bring a top quality player off, you’re really weakening the team. But you’re not at the moment. The way he’s playing is perfect on that side.’
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