Chelsea forward gives his word to Mikel Arteta and join Arsenal

Arsenal’s winger search has taken a significant step forward, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that Noni Madueke has agreed to personal terms with the Gunners. Talks between the clubs are expected to begin in the coming days, as Arsenal accelerate their plan to add more firepower to Mikel Arteta’s attack. The young Chelsea winger has said yes to Arteta’s project, and now the framework of a transfer is being built.

This has not come out of nowhere. Arsenal’s interest in Madueke has been growing for weeks, and Chelsea’s own plans for a sweeping forward-line overhaul have only made the move more feasible. Now, all signs point to Madueke being the next attacker out the door at Stamford Bridge — and perhaps the next revitalized talent at the Emirates.

A changing of the guard at Chelsea

Madueke’s place in the Chelsea squad has looked increasingly unstable this summer. With Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Estevão Willian both set to join the club, and Mohammed Kudus still a strong possibility, the winger depth chart is about to be flooded. For all of Madueke’s flair and promise, Chelsea have made it clear they are moving in a different direction, targeting more well-rounded or younger wide players.

Madueke, a left-footed right winger, has shown flashes of brilliance at Chelsea but has never truly nailed down a starting spot. His style — ball-dominant, incisive, and tricky in 1v1s — can be dazzling, but has often lacked end product. Still just 23, he remains an intriguing talent, and Arsenal clearly believe they can get more out of him than Chelsea have.

A rotation piece behind Bukayo Saka?

The immediate question Arsenal fans will ask is: where does he play?

Madueke’s natural position is on the right, which just so happens to be the domain of Bukayo Saka, who is not only Arsenal’s best player but also one of the best right wingers in the world. But that’s exactly the point. Arsenal have leaned heavily on Saka in the last three seasons, with very little genuine cover or rotation.

If Arsenal can bring in Madueke on the right — even if he’s a bench player to start — it allows Arteta to finally manage Saka’s minutes, something that has become more important as Arsenal fight deep into multiple competitions. Madueke has the tools to be a livewire option off the bench and develop into a more complete threat over time.

Familiar Chelsea-to-Arsenal pipeline

If the move is completed, Madueke wouldn’t be the first Chelsea attacker to end up in Arteta’s Arsenal. Kai Havertz made the switch last summer, and while Raheem Sterling’s move was short-lived, it showed Arsenal’s willingness to pick up pieces from Chelsea’s discarded forward corps and repurpose them within a more defined structure.

Madueke is younger and arguably more malleable than both. He won’t come in as a starter, but that’s the point. Arsenal want depth, upside, and risk-managed attacking firepower.

And in Madueke, they may have found the perfect piece to complete their wide rotation.