Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on winger Noni Madueke following the 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 last night. The Gunners had a tough outing on the road against the Bundesliga outfit, and they needed a late penalty to equalise. Noni Madueke replaced Bukayo Saka on the right wing at the hour mark and was a key catalyst behind the result, winning the spot-kick that Kai Havertz converted.
Speaking after the game, Arteta said that he was not surprised by Madueke’s impact in the lead-up to the penalty. He highlighted that the England international is “very brave” at running at defenders and a “big credit” to him for securing a hard-fought draw at the BayArena yesterday. The substitution proved decisive as Madueke’s directness changed the dynamic of Arsenal’s attack in the final half-hour.
Mikel Arteta praises Noni Madueke bravery
Arteta told Arsenal.com: “I’m not surprised at all because that’s his biggest quality. He’s very brave at doing that and he’s a real threat so to have a player with that ability when we need him and to step in in the manner that he did, big credit to him.”
Aside from winning the penalty, the 24-year-old completed 19 out of 20 passes with an accuracy of 95 percent. He won 100 percent of his duels (3/3) and tackles (1/1) alongside two recoveries. He had one successful dribble and lost possession just five times.
Madueke impact contrasts with Saka struggle
In comparison, Saka won just two out of eight duels contested. He managed only 16 passes in 60 minutes, losing possession 14 times. The Gunners’ captain on the night had a difficult outing as he was being man-marked efficiently. With Madueke, Leverkusen had a different headache with his directness and better decision-making.
The statistics highlight how Madueke brought fresh energy and clarity to Arsenal’s right flank. His ability to retain possession under pressure stood out, particularly when compared to Saka’s struggles against Leverkusen’s tight defensive attention.
Madueke could start against Everton after Leverkusen performance
Arsenal host Everton in the Premier League on Saturday evening. It would not come as a surprise if Madueke is awarded a starting role on the right wing after his sublime cameo at Leverkusen last night. The Gunners are seven points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the standings, having played a game more. They can go 10 clear with a victory before City face West Ham United at the London Stadium.
Madueke’s performance has given Arteta a selection dilemma ahead of the Everton clash. The manager must decide whether to reward the substitute’s impact with a starting position or stick with Saka despite his difficult evening. Madueke’s bravery and composure under pressure could prove crucial as Arsenal navigate a packed fixture schedule during the decisive phase of their quadruple challenge.
