Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice defends Noni Madueke after the winger’s signing was met with online backlash, saying he’s excited to see Madueke’s talent shine.

Declan Rice has come out in support of new signing Noni Madueke, despite the winger facing backlash from some fans online. 

Madueke joined Arsenal from Chelsea last week in a deal worth £48.5m, but the signing was met with criticism on social media, with some fans expressing their discontent through the hashtag #NoToMadueke and a petition that garnered over 5,000 signatures.

Rice, however, is confident that Madueke will prove his doubters wrong. “I know how driven he is,” Rice said after Arsenal’s 1-0 win over AC Milan in Singapore. “I’ve spoken to him, and you’re going to see what he’s about this season. He wants to prove and show everyone what he really can do.”

Rice believes Madueke’s hunger to succeed will make him a valuable addition to the squad. “He’s hungry, he wants to play for Arsenal, and that’s the type of players we want. It’s so positive.” Rice is excited to see Madueke bring his talent to the team and is looking forward to working with him.

When Madueke signed for Arsenal, Rice wrote a letter to welcome him to the club. “The club came up with the idea, and it was a nice little touch for him to join the club and feel welcome,” Rice said. Madueke reportedly appreciated the gesture, messaging Rice to express his gratitude.

Rice highlighted Madueke’s ability to beat defenders as a significant asset to the team. “When you’re an attacking player, and in your mind, the first thought you have is to go past your defender, that’s an unbelievable trait to have.” He believes Madueke will bring a new dimension to Arsenal’s attack.

The signing of Madueke is seen as a boost to Arsenal’s squad depth, particularly in attack. With Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli already established, Madueke will provide competition and potentially push the existing players to new heights.

Rice emphasized the importance of squad depth, especially after the injuries that plagued Arsenal last season. “Let’s be real – last year, we hardly had any depth in any areas. We played half the season pretty much with so many injuries.” He believes the added depth will be crucial in the team’s pursuit of trophies.

With Madueke joining the squad, Rice is optimistic about the team’s prospects. “We’re really looking forward to having him at our club. It’s going to be really exciting.” As the season unfolds, it will be interesting to see how Madueke adapts to his new surroundings and whether he can prove his doubters wrong.