Arteta backs out-of-form Madueke to seize chance as Gyokeres also faces Arsenal exit pressure

Mikel Arteta has urged Noni Madueke to prove his worth at Arsenal, insisting the £52m summer signing from Chelsea will benefit from an extended run in the side after Christos Tzolis was ruled out through injury.

Madueke, 24, has struggled to nail down a regular starting berth at the Emirates since his move in the summer of 2025, facing stiff competition from Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Tzolis. His form has slipped to the point where he has also lost his place in the England squad for the first time since the World Cup.

“If we give the possibility to any player to give him two or three or four games in a row, I think everybody will appreciate that because they will get more familiar with the players, more minutes, more confidence,” Arteta said. “I am sure that we will start to see a closer version of Noni at the highest level.”

Madueke has typically been most effective on the right wing, cutting inside onto his stronger left foot, but Arteta has deployed him on the left in recent fixtures — including the match against Leeds — and is expected to do so again against Nottingham Forest. The Arsenal manager insists the versatility is a tactical asset rather than a compromise.

“He can play in both positions. He offers something completely different,” Arteta said. “Obviously now we have the necessity of a player on the left side with different qualities than Ebs as well, that can complement all the other unit we have on that left hand side. It’s great because he is comfortable there, he is enjoying playing there, and he is doing well.”

Viktor Gyokeres, who joined from Sporting Lisbon, is also facing scrutiny after failing to find consistent form since his arrival, with both players linked with potential exits if their situations do not improve.

Arteta’s side head to Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, a ground where the Spaniard has a poor managerial record — just one win from five visits, with the last two ending in goalless draws. He is, however, drawing confidence from back-to-back wins since the international break.

“We have responded really well in the last two games, two very good performances and results,” Arteta said. “Now we just focus on” continuing that momentum at a venue that has historically proved stubborn for Arsenal.