Gary Neville hails Arsenal winger and likens him to Arjen Robben

Gary Neville admits he has been surprised by Noni Madueke’s bright start at Arsenal, even likening the winger to legendary Dutch wide man Arjen Robben.

The Gunners paid £52 million to bring Madueke in from Chelsea over the summer, a deal that raised eyebrows among fans given his inconsistency at Stamford Bridge. But the 23-year-old has quickly silenced doubters, following up an impressive display for England in their 5-0 win over Serbia with another eye-catching performance in Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

Speaking on his The Gary Neville Podcast yesterday after the Manchester Derby, the former Manchester United defender had the following to say:

Neville on Madueke: “Better than I thought he would be”

“Madueke, Eze… when you think about Martinelli and Saka, you thought they would dominate the right and left wing of Arsenal for the next five, ten years,” Neville said on The Gary Neville Podcast.

“Yet you’re watching two players yesterday, obviously Saka will come back in and Martinelli will play games as well… but Madueke is a lot better than I imagined and thought he would be. And certainly a lot better than Arsenal fans thought he would be.”

The Arjen Robben comparison

“A couple of runs that he made for England on Tuesday night were a different level, they’re runs I thought, ‘ooh’. They’re runs… Arjen Robben used to make those runs against me.

“I’m giving you players where they’re a sort of level where you think, ‘ooh, I’m up against it, this is a different type of player’. Sometimes you play against a winger and they’re dribbling at you and you know they’ve got a trick and you know that you’re going to be in for a different game, then you’ve got players who are a step above, a level above.

“I’m not saying Madueke is there yet, but his movement and the things that he’s doing are very, very good, and I’m talking from a full-back’s perspective playing against it.”

Praise for Eze as well

“Eze looks like he’s got that little bit of something – he has got that something.”

On Viktor Gyokeres: “A misfit Arsenal need”

Neville also turned his attention to Arsenal’s new striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has already scored three goals in four Premier League games.

“Gyokeres… good day for him. The problem is for Arsenal they’ve got so many silky players in Zubimendi, Odegaard, Madueke, Eze, and you look at Gyokeres and he’s a misfit.

“He’s a misfit for that group of players in a sense of he’s not technically amazing, but I actually like that sort of contrast, that idea of having this battering ram who is sort of ungainly and I think he’ll beat up small teams.

“Whether he’ll do it in the big games and score in the big games, not as sure. I think that the best defenders might handle him, we’ll see. But I think he’ll beat up smaller teams for Arsenal, that’s not a bad thing, scoring loads of goals, getting 20 goals this season which he could do.”

On Zubimendi’s importance

Neville also praised Arsenal’s midfield addition Martín Zubimendi, highlighting how vital he could be for Mikel Arteta’s system.

“I actually thought he [Zubimendi] was as important to sign as Gyokeres. I saw Arsenal last season, I thought there were moments where Jorginho played where he just pops balls through lines, I’m not sure Declan Rice and Partey… it’s interesting how Declan Rice is now being used by Mikel Arteta and Thomas Tuchel in that advanced role, I actually think that’s where Declan Rice should be.

“Zubimendi I thought they really needed that type of player, Arsenal. Receive it and pop it through to Odegaard a bit quicker, break the lines. I wasn’t expecting him score a volley or a header at the back post like we got yesterday, but that’s the quality of him, he’s got great technical ability.”

The bigger picture for Arsenal

With Madueke already impressing, Gyokeres offering a physical edge, and Zubimendi bringing balance in midfield, Arsenal’s summer signings are quickly showing their value. Neville’s comments underline what many fans are starting to believe — that Mikel Arteta now has more variety, depth, and unpredictability in attack and midfield than in any of his previous squads.

If Madueke continues his rise, Gyokeres hits consistent numbers, and Zubimendi cements himself as a midfield controller, Arsenal could very well end their 21-year Premier League title drought by May next year.