Walcott names Arsenal player who has earned teammates’ trust

Theo Walcott believes Noni Madueke’s teammates are starting to trust him more, and that the Arsenal winger is now playing with confidence.

Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott took part in the post-match analysis of the Gunners’ weekend win over Hull City, and he was impressed with the performance of fellow winger Noni Madueke.

Madueke was a constant threat throughout the match, and though he didn’t officially get a goal or an assist, it was his shot that Martin Odegaard turned in on the rebound for the winning goal.

Walcott believes Arsenal are now starting to trust in Madueke more, giving him more opportunities to show what he can do.

“I think he’s just playing with that freedom and confidence,” Walcott said. “I think the players around him understand if he loses the ball they’ll get it back for him, and they trust him and they’re giving him the ball more and more often because he does things that other players won’t be able to do.

“He can be frustrating, and you get that inconsistency with wingers, I was one of those at times who you’d get frustrated with. However, they’d always go and go again.

“I feel like it’s always a fall back, go back to your strengths as wingers, don’t overthink things, play with that freedom.

“I think if you’re relentless at the defenders, you keep them guessing all the time and that’s what he does, he keeps defenders guessing. He’s difficult, isn’t he?”

Madueke is on a good run of form going into the November international break, having contributed positively in plenty of matches since the October break ended.

The 24-year-old set up a goal against Lille, scored a vital winner away to Nottingham Forest in October, and scored the opening goal against Slavia Praha last midweek.

Then it was his cross that led to Arsenal’s equaliser against Leeds United, and he was heavily involved in the moves for the late equaliser against Bayern Munich and the winner against Liverpool.

Arsenal needed Madueke to step up in Bukayo Saka’s absence, and the former Chelsea player has certainly done that.

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