Mikel Arteta Labels Noni Madueke a 'New Player’ After Hull Win

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has hailed Noni Madueke’s rise in form with the boss speaking out on the right winger after Arsenal’s most recent victory, a hard fought 1-0 win over Premier League newcomers Hull City on Saturday afternoon.  

Madueke has started seven matches in-a-row for The Gunners following the injury to Bukayo Saka, the most he has started consecutively for Arteta’s side since signing for the club from Chelsea in the summer of 2025 for a reported fee of £48.5million. 

Arteta spoke recently, saying that Madueke would ‘explode’ if given a run of consecutive game time, and it looks like once again, Mikel Arteta has been proved correct. 

In the seven starts in-a-row that he has mustered up so far, the 24 year-old has produced one assist in the 3-0 Champions League victory over LOSC Lille as well as netting two important goals. He scored the winner for Arsenal at the City Ground in the 0-1 victory over Nottingham Forest, as well as the opener in The Gunners’ most recent Champions League victory, the 1-2 win over Slavia Prague. He also netted in the 2-4 Carabao Cup third round win over Ipswich Town at Portman Road. 

Speaking after Arsenal’s win at The Emirates yesterday, Arteta spoke about Madueke’s change in mentality since his prolonged period of minutes in the side. "He's a great example for the rest of the group because before the first international break he wasn't playing” the boss said.

The Spaniard also exclaimed that Madueke decided to go to Portugal over the recent international break rather than go on holiday to work on his fitness. "He went away, started to train and was a different Noni. He wasn't going to accept that situation, he meant business, and since then he has been incredible” he said. 

Despite not scoring himself, it was Madueke’s initial effort that led to Ødegaard's winner in the 72nd minute, when Hull City keeper Tzolakis spilled his shot into the path of the Arsenal captain, who managed to poke home to give Arsenal all three points.

Arteta has spoken about the confidence in his performances in recent weeks. He said "You can see now he is full of confidence and trying things and getting past players and he's impacting games with goals and assists and we are very happy with that."

Although he was considerably effective in yesterday’s win, the Englishman did have a few chances to score which he did squander. Arteta has now challenged him to become more consistent and clinical. "He knew he had three clear chances to score,” he exclaimed.

Arsenal’s Premier League winning manager has also spoken out about how he can keep his place in the Arsenal eleven, with Bukayo Saka creeping ever closer to a return from injury. "Now you are in that position, you need to hold it and improve it and he can still do that" he said. 

Arteta is clearly happy with Madueke who is looking like a revived player as of late. Despite his bright patch, it has not been enough to earn a call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s most recent England squad for the upcoming international break, though this will come as some good news for Arteta, who will benefit from a fresh player when the Premier League returns ahead of an action packed festive period that is on the horizon.