Noni Madueke has set out an uncompromising target for his first full season in north London, insisting that Arsenal are aiming to win every competition they’re in as he continues to settle after his summer move from Chelsea.
With Arsenal positioned strongly in the Premier League and Champions League, still in the Carabao Cup, and with the FA Cup yet to start, Noni Madueke has made it clear that the ambition within the Gunners’ camp is not small.
“We believe that this can be our year,” he said ahead of the trip to Aston Villa.
“Everyone’s got to take an extra step; physically, mentally, and in our performances on the training pitch and at the stadium. That’s our goal, to compete to win every single competition that we’re in. Carabao Cup, we’re in the quarter-finals, and we’re first in the Champions League and the Premier League.
“I feel like we have the ability that we can do it. I feel like you can’t achieve anything if you don’t believe it from before, and we definitely have that belief. We just need to continue, not even staying the same, but continue reaching new levels and continue pushing ourselves and I feel like we’re on the perfect trajectory right now.”
The winger has already enjoyed a number of eye-catching performances, including against Bayern Munich when he scored his first goal for the club, and says the connection he has already built with supporters has helped accelerate his adaptation to life at the Emirates.
“I love playing at Emirates [Stadium], it’s a really special feeling for me to play there,” Madueke said. “I feel the connection between me and the fans and it’s just my job to continue to do the best I can to help the team achieve its goals and I’m sure that bond will grow.”
Madueke’s early progress comes despite missing 11 games due to a knee injury and fierce competition for places in the strongest squad in Europe. Rather than see that as a barrier, he believes it is essential to sustaining a challenge across multiple fronts. “I think for Mikel it’s a selection headache!” he said.
“But he probably wouldn’t have it another way, it’s great for him to have such a plethora of talent around him.
“For us, it’s fantastic. Competition for places, that’s exactly what you need when you want to be fighting on all four fronts, it’s great for keeping the standards high around the players on the training pitch.”
Madueke also said his belief in the scale of Arsenal’s ambition was formed before he had even completed the move, following his first conversation with Mikel Arteta. “I think the first time I got on the phone with Mikel, it was a great conversation, me, my dad and him,” he said.
“He just highlighted the plans that he had for the team, the plans that he had for me and a lot of the things he said really resonated with me.
“Of course I knew how good the team was and that they were in a position to really challenge for major honours, so that’s really what made the choice up for me.”