Mikel Arteta has revealed that a fan petition against signing Noni Madueke actually strengthened his resolve to bring the winger to Arsenal. Over 5,000 supporters had signed a petition calling on the club not to buy Madueke, but Arteta insists it had the opposite effect.
“If anything it gave me more conviction and more will to help him,” said Arteta. “And do everything we possibly could to make his relationship work and to prepare everything around him in the best possible way.”
Madueke joined Arsenal from Chelsea in the summer for a fee that could eventually exceed £50 million. The move was initially met with online backlash, but the winger received strong support from fans inside the stadium, which Arteta says became “fuel” for him.
“I think that lasted a short period of time and immediately we had complete the opposite reaction which I think he valued, respected and it was like fuel to him,” the Arsenal manager added.
Madueke is set to return to Chelsea on Sunday for the first time since his departure. After recovering from a knee injury, he came off the bench to score against Bayern Munich in midweek and could now start against his former club.
“I am very pleased with him since the day that he came with his attitude,” said Arteta. “He has brought another type of threat with his capacity to play on the right and the left. It is great to have him back.”
