The Unexpected Chelsea Star Arsenal Are Quietly Monitoring This Summer

Arsenal have a history of targeting big names from Chelsea in the transfer market. Petr Cech, Willian, and, most recently, center forward/attacking midfielder Kai Havertz and veteran winger Raheem Sterling are among the high-profile players who have made the switch between London rivals.

The Gunners are coming off another second-place finish in the Premier League and were ahead of Chelsea again, but with the Blues winning the Conference League and back in the Champions League next season, it’s feeling more and more like these two clubs are back on level playing field again.

Emotionally, Chelsea feel as though they are on the rise, while Arsenal must feel a sense of stagnation after another trophyless season, though their elimination of Real Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals was a clear sign of the progress that has been made at the highest level under manager Mikel Arteta.

Both Chelsea and Arsenal have come into the summer transfer window with similar needs, as both clubs need a high-octane goal-scorer in order to reach new heights – and both clubs could also use more help on the wings.

Arsenal may not be highly interested

Chelsea have recently made right winger Noni Madueke available for transfer after realizing he isn’t quite what is required at the position – and with the more talented Estevao Willian on the way from Brazil in the 2025/26 season.

Interestingly enough, the Telegraph’s Matt Law reports that Arsenal are already showing interest in signing Madueke this summer, joining a host of unnamed suitors for the talented right winger. However, it’s unclear how interested Arsenal are, because Law notes that the Gunners show at least cursory interest in a wide variety of targets.

It’s likely that Arsenal’s interest in Madueke is only cursory, but they are in the market for a left-footed right winger to back up Bukayo Saka, whose injury issues last season hampered the Gunners.

Madueke only had 10 goal contributions last season as a starting winger for Chelsea, but that kind of production would be a significant upgrade on the right wing behind Saka in comparison to, say, Sterling, who was the definition of a failed transfer and doesn’t bring a left foot.

With a 40 million euro valuation from Transfermarkt, the 23-year-old Madueke is probably a little pricier than what Arsenal want as a backup winger, but at his age and with his experience of decent Premier League production, he isn’t a bad option by any means to keep on the shortlist of possible targets.

But judging how the Willian, Havertz, and now Sterling transfers have worked out for Arsenal, they should think twice about spending on Madueke and instead look at all the alternatives on the market as they look to potentially sign both a left and right winger this summer.

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