Arsenal confirmed the $65 million signing of Noni Madueke from Chelsea on Friday. The 23-year-old winger joins on a five-year deal and will wear the number 20 shirt.

But while Mikel Arteta described him as “an exciting and powerful young player,” many Arsenal fans had a different reaction. Within hours of the announcement, #NoToMadueke was trending on X. One petition to block the transfer reached over 5,000 signatures. Some supporters even spray-painted “Arteta Out” outside the Emirates.

It wasn’t just the price tag, though that stung. It was the feeling of déjà vu. Another winger. Another Chelsea castoff. Another expensive gamble with no clear path to the starting XI.

More depth, less ambition

Madueke becomes the sixth Chelsea player to move to Arsenal in five years, following the likes of David Luiz, Willian, Kai Havertz, Jorginho, and a loan spell for Raheem Sterling. Only Havertz has carved out a consistent role. The rest either flopped or were offloaded.

Fans see a pattern. Aging, overpriced, or underdeveloped players from a London rival, brought in with vague justification about “versatility” or “tactical depth.” And now, $65 million for a player who doesn’t improve the starting XI? That’s the real frustration.

Bukayo Saka, Arsenal’s starboy and undroppable right winger, already occupies Madueke’s best position. The idea that the Chelsea winger could “push” Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard on the left is baffling to most supporters, especially since Madueke has produced zero or assists from that side of the pitch in his entire Premier League career.

Last season, he made seven appearances on the left for Chelsea. He created nothing.

Across his career at Chelsea and PSV, the numbers are even starker: one goal, two assists when deployed on the left. His impact comes cutting in from the right, where Saka lives.

So why spend big on a backup?

That’s the question fans keep asking. Especially when Arsenal were linked to Rodrygo, a player who does everything Madueke might one day do—but already does it now.

Rodrygo, 24, may leave Real Madrid this summer. Arsenal reportedly held interest before deciding to prioritize depth over a headline signing. The backlash has been swift.

Even the stats, where Arsenal fans usually find refuge, don’t offer much comfort.

Madueke had 10 Premier League goal involvements last season: seven goals and three assists in 27 starts. His expected goals were solid. His dribbling metrics, elite. But when it came to end product and decision-making, the inconsistency showed. And when Chelsea needed him most—during their push for Europe—he faded. One goal in his final 12 appearances.

That didn’t stop Arteta from backing him. “He is one of the most talented wide forward players in the Premier League,” the manager said in the club’s official statement.

But it’s not just about talent. It’s about fit.

Madueke isn’t a needle-mover. He’s not the next step in a title charge. He’s a rotation option—albeit one with upside—whose most natural role is already occupied by Arsenal’s most important player.

The hope, internally, is that he brings energy, unpredictability, and insurance in a long season that will include Champions League nights. But for many fans, that’s not enough. They wanted ambition. They got depth.

The result is a player walking into the club with something to prove and a crowd ready to pounce if he doesn’t deliver fast.