Mikel Arteta has been told that Noni Madueke is 'not good enough' and to sign new wingers ahead of next season. The Gunners signed the England international for £50 million from Chelsea last summer. Despite helping Arsenal win the Premier League title and reach the Champions League final, Madueke had a difficult first season, contributing only four goals in the league.
Petit's Verdict on Madueke
Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit has advised the north London club to once again enter the market for wingers in the upcoming summer transfer window. Speaking to talkSPORT, Petit said: 'I think it's easy to know what Arsenal are missing, for me it's wingers. You need to have strong and powerful wingers with technical skills that can make a difference on the wings. But before bringing in new players, they have to show some players the exit door too.'
Petit specifically mentioned Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus as potential departures, while expressing uncertainty about Viktor Gyokeres, who recently joined the club. He added: 'Leandro Trossard, I would keep him. But Noni Madueke, for me, isn't good enough, I'm sorry to say that, but he must do much more than that to improve.'
Arsenal's Need for Attacking Reinforcements
Petit emphasised the need for Arsenal to strengthen their attack: 'We definitely need wingers and probably one striker with pace, technical skills, great movement. We need to improve up front.'
Madueke's World Cup Opportunity
Despite his underwhelming season, Madueke earned a spot in England's squad for the World Cup. He could have a chance to start in England's opening group game against Croatia, as Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka is struggling with a slight injury. England boss Thomas Tuchel provided an update on Saka's condition: 'Declan is on 100 per cent and Bukayo is still getting there, playing through discomfort at the end of the season, but obviously managing it and playing at a high level, but still not on his 100 per cent.'
Tuchel confirmed that Saka is being carefully managed: 'He is the one we are building and taking care of in training, but Declan is 100 per cent, Ebs is 100 per cent, Noni is 100 per cent. Bukayo is just not there yet. Some things are missing, consecutive training. They took very good care of him and were very aware of it at Arsenal, and we will do a little bit the same.'
The England manager added: 'So, step by step, he is at the moment not able to do every training session through the week and then play. He is still going to be managed. They decided together, Bukayo and Arsenal, to let him play through his pain and discomfort, even if it was not possible to train the whole week in the build ups. Yesterday, he was not with us, today he was and did the full training session. He is available for tomorrow, but he needs management to be fully, fully 100 per cent, which he is not. I think it is very unlikely Bukayo starts and finishes all the matches from now on.'
