Why Arsenal should consider January loan for Madueke amid Atletico and Juventus interest
Arsenal may need to consider a January loan for Noni Madueke if his lack of minutes continues, with Atletico Madrid and Juventus both reported to be monitoring his situation.
Mikel Arteta has arguably never had a deeper Arsenal squad. The quality of his options means Arsenal can rotate without a major drop in level, but it also means several players are likely to spend long periods out of the side.
Madueke could become one of them.
The 24-year-old joined Arsenal from Chelsea and has had some good moments in north London. Much of that opportunity came while Bukayo Saka was injured. Now that Saka is fully fit again, Madueke has found himself much further down the pecking order.
So far in the 2026-27 season, he has played only 23 minutes in the Premier League and a further 17 minutes in the Champions League. That is not enough for a player who still has international ambitions with England.
A loan would not necessarily mean Arsenal have given up on him. It could be a way to protect his value, keep him sharp and allow him to return with more experience. Atletico or Juventus could give him the regular football that currently looks difficult to find at Arsenal.
There is an obvious argument against letting him go. If Saka suffers another injury, Madueke is the natural replacement on the right. Arsenal are competing on several fronts, and Arteta may not want to weaken a squad that has been built to handle a long season.
But Madueke will not want to spend the rest of the campaign waiting for a short substitute appearance. A move has to work for the player as well as the club. If Arsenal cannot promise him meaningful minutes, a temporary move could be the sensible solution.
The interest from Atletico and Juventus is understandable. Madueke has scored eight goals and registered three assists since the start of last season. Gabriel Martinelli, who has since left the club, produced 11 goals and seven assists in only 28 more minutes over the same period.
Madueke’s numbers are not perfect. His 78.48% pass-completion rate is low for an Arteta side that relies heavily on possession and precise combinations. That may explain why he has not become a regular starter. His final ball, whether from open play or set pieces, also needs improvement.
Yet he has qualities that can appeal to clubs in Spain and Italy. His shot accuracy is 65%, the best among Arsenal players with substantial minutes over the past 12 months. He has taken 60 shots, the sixth-highest total in the Arsenal squad since the start of 2025-26, and converted three of nine big chances.
His dribbling figures are also respectable. Madueke has completed 66 of 138 dribble attempts, a success rate of 47.83%. Only Eberechi Eze and Riccardo Calafiori have better rates among Arsenal players with comparable involvement.
Atletico could value his direct running and ability to attack space. Juventus may see a winger with the pace and shooting quality to add something different in the final third. Neither club would be taking a finished player; they would be taking one who needs a clear role and a run of games.
For Arsenal, the decision will come down to Saka’s fitness, the size of Arteta’s squad in January and Madueke’s own appetite for waiting. A loan is not an automatic answer, but if his minutes do not rise, it could make sense for every side.
