'Consistency isn't there' - Arsenal legend Paul Merson stokes fears of Bukayo Saka exit as he admits he is 'flabbergasted' by Noni Madueke signing

With Enzo Maresca bringing in fresh talent such as Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Estevao and Joao Pedro, Madueke’s place in the squad was under threat. Realising that minutes could be hard to come by, he opted for a switch to north London in search of more consistent involvement.

In his column for Sky Sports, Merson didn’t hold back in his assessment of Madueke's transfer: "I am flabbergasted by Arsenal signing Noni Madueke. I'm shocked. If Arsenal went and bought any player from Chelsea, he'd have been the last one I thought they'd sign. I just don't see it. It's a lot of money for a player who is not a prolific goalscorer. He's the sort of player that has a good game here and a good game there, but that'll be it. The consistency of performance isn't there. I hope he proves me wrong, but he'll have the good games, just like he did for England last month. But then you won't see him for a few weeks."

Merson even referenced his preference for another player and said: "For me, at Chelsea, I'd have always played Jadon Sancho ahead of him. It's not to be disrespectful to the player but I am flabbergasted by the money Arsenal are paying for him. Chelsea just won't believe that this deal has come to them. They won't believe their luck."

However, things don't look bright for Madueke at the Emirates either. He is expected to serve as cover for Saka on the right and push Gabriel Martinelli for starting minutes on the opposite flank. Hence, Merson argued that shelling out £52m for a fringe player makes little sense.

He said: "What I don't get is that Madueke's best position is playing on the right, cutting inside and getting shots away. Who does that for Arsenal? Bukayo Saka. And he's not coming out of the Arsenal starting XI. So, with that in mind, £52m is a lot of money for a backup player, in this day and age."

But given the club’s ambition to challenge across multiple competitions next season, squad rotation will be important, which might provide Madueke more opportunities to impress. The onus will be on him to grab those moments and make a case for himself to be a starter for Arteta.

For Madueke, this move is about revival and recognition. His spell at Chelsea was marked by flashes of brilliance but lacked the consistent run of form necessary to cement a place in the starting XI. Now at Arsenal, he has the chance to prove himself in a system that prizes work rate, creativity and tactical discipline.

The 22-year-old will join his new teammates on a pre-season tour in Asia, where Arsenal are scheduled to face AC Milan, Newcastle United and local rivals Tottenham Hotspur. These fixtures will serve as early tests for Madueke and give fans a first glimpse of what he can bring to the team.