Noni Madueke was called out for 'disrespectful' reaction to substitution in Arsenal match

Arsenal secured a dramatic late equaliser against Manchester City on Sunday, though the afternoon wasn't without its controversies. Eyebrows were raised when Mikel Arteta hauled off Noni Madueke at the interval, with the head coach's ability to maximise the winger's potential potentially proving crucial for the Gunners' ambitions.

Supporters expressed frustration as Madueke's number appeared on the board at the beginning of the second period, with Arteta bringing on Bukayo Saka in a double substitution. When quizzed about the decision following the final whistle, the boss hinted there may have been underlying circumstances beyond what spectators witnessed.

"No, I think he had an issue very early in the match and he wasn't well enough to continue," Arteta explained. He also dismissed suggestions his initial team selection had been overly cautious, responding to one journalist: "I leave that to you, but for me it's a lot of attacking players in that team, yes."

Madueke's situation at Arsenal contrasts sharply with his experiences at Stamford Bridge.

As a substantial investment worth £48million, Madueke evidently enjoys considerable support from Arteta, though he was forced to prove himself under numerous different bosses during his time with Chelsea.

The England star faced scrutiny for certain conduct during his stint in West London - notably in a fixture against his current side in November 2024.

That day saw him substituted for Mykhaylo Mudryk during the second half, with his response being to march directly towards the tunnel. Madueke has clarified that he merely took a trip to the toilet before sitting on the bench, dismissing claims that he stormed off in a huff.

"It's disrespectful to your team-mates. I think the manager protecting him is mad, that's a two-week fine," pundit Rio Ferdinand had posted on social media before the winger set the record straight.

Ex-Chelsea coach Jody Morris echoed Ferdinand's sentiments, telling talkSPORT: "I'd be fuming and I think we've got a manager that would address that instantly which I think the best ones do. It's not just disrespectful to your team-mates but to the fans as well."

However, Morris conceded there might have been extenuating circumstances, and indeed there were. "I literally went down the tunnel to go to the toilet and I came back 30 seconds later," Madueke explained.

"If you watch a lot of games when I come off, I always going straight down the tunnel to go to the toilet. It is nothing major at all."

This isn't the first time the winger has drawn attention for the wrong reasons, even if there was a seemingly innocent explanation this time. During Mauricio Pochettino's stint as Chelsea manager, Madueke tried to take a penalty from Cole Palmer in a resounding victory over Everton - much to the chagrin of commentator Alan Smith.

"I've never seen anything like it," former Arsenal striker Smith said. "In this kind of situation, with this scoreline. Grow up! I don't blame Cole Palmer for not wanting to give that one up. He's the designated taker and he's the best one at it."

Episodes such as the penalty dispute have resulted in Madueke developing a dubious standing amongst certain observers, though supporters have been swift to defend him.

Indeed, even last week, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown's pointed inquiry to the player wasn't particularly well-received.

"Noni, have you taken your game to another level? Because you look more collective," Keown asked Madueke after Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest. "I was worried about you when you came. Because I thought sometimes you can be a little bit selfish, but now, you seem to have got really good balance to your play. The decisions you're making have been outstanding."

Whilst certain supporters criticised Keown, Madueke replied: "It's easy to play with these guys. I'm having a great time. Maybe I have taken a step in that direction."

This campaign will prove a juggling exercise for Mikel Arteta.

Madueke represents one of several alternatives in wide positions, with Saka now returning from injury, Gabriel Martinelli netting a crucial leveller on Sunday and Leandro Trossard making his mark from the substitutes' bench in the Champions League triumph in Bilbao.

Last season, Arteta's task was arguably simpler with injuries dictating his choices during the run-in - though that brought its own set of challenges.

This time around, assuming Madueke's injury scare isn't too severe, the issue will be keeping everyone content.

It could indeed be to Arsenal's advantage that Madueke has experience handling such competition, and he arguably coped with it better than some of his Chelsea colleagues last season as he demonstrated an ability to step in and perform.