Madueke handed Saka's right wing role as Arsenal eye new leading man
Bukayo Saka's quad injury has not just cost Arsenal their talisman, it has reshuffled the entire pecking order on the right wing, and Noni Madueke looks to be the player stepping into the void.
According to the Evening Standard's Matt Verri, there are initial fears Saka's injury could keep him out for as long as eight weeks. That timeline, if accurate, would rule him out of a brutal run of fixtures including both Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid before Christmas.
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Until now, Madueke had been competing with Eberechi Eze for the left wing shirt, a battle that was expected to last only until Christos Tzolis returned from injury in the coming days. Saka's absence has changed that picture entirely, with Madueke now in pole position to make the right wing his own rather than fighting for scraps on the left.
A promising audition against Everton
Arsenal's first match without Saka, a 2-0 win over Everton at the Emirates, doubled as an audition for Madueke, with Thomas Tuchel watching on from the stands. The winger had been left out of the last England squad and was one of the few Arsenal players to stay at the club's training ground during the extended three week international break.
Madueke was involved in some of Arsenal's best moments going forward, turning sharply to drag a shot just wide in the first half before controlling a dropping ball and firing into the side netting shortly after. He was visibly enjoying himself, at one point laughing in Vitaliy Mykolenko's face after the Everton defender gifted Arsenal a corner with a heavy touch.
There also appears to be a concerted effort from Mikel Arteta and his teammates to protect Madueke's confidence, given his reputation as a player who can blow hot and cold. When a Madueke pass went astray and broke down an attack, Arteta sprinted to the touchline to applaud him, with Martin Odegaard offering similar encouragement.
Still building understanding with Ben White
His combination play with Ben White, who has spent years building a relationship with Saka down that flank, is understandably still a work in progress. White was heard voicing his frustration at one point when Madueke failed to find him on the overlap, though the pair exchanged words and continued working through it.
Madueke was also handed defensive duties late on, dropping into a wide left role and even operating at left back during second half stoppage time, with Ezri Konsa and Gabriel directing him throughout.
With a packed and demanding run of fixtures ahead, Madueke now has a genuine opportunity to establish himself as Arsenal's leading man on the right for both club and country while Saka recovers.
