Rio Ferdinand gives verdict on Mikel Arteta transfer activity after decision to splash £48.5m

Mikel Arteta raised a few eyebrows this summer when he made Chelsea star Noni Madueke one of his top targets, but Rio Ferdinand has defended the Arsenal boss over the signing of the 23-year-old

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has backed Mikel Arteta’s decision to splash out £48.5 million on England star Noni Madueke. Madueke joined the Gunners from Chelsea last month to a mixed reaction from Arsenal supporters.

While plenty welcomed him to the club, some were left disappointed by the 23-year-old’s arrival, with one fan even setting up an online petition branded as #NOTOMADUEKE.

While many other supporters condemned the petition, it ultimately gathered thousands of signatures as some fans seemed opposed to the club seeking out another winger before locking down a new striker. Since Madueke, 23, joined the club, Arsenal have also finally secured the signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP in a £63.7 million deal, following a drawn out transfer saga.

READ MORE: Arsenal handed Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman transfer warning ahead of Mikel Arteta decisionREAD MORE: Rio Ferdinand makes thoughts clear on Arsenal star: ‘The best talent since Wayne Rooney’

Discussing Arsenal’s summer acquisitions with Joel Beya on the ex-United defender’s podcast, Rio Ferdinand Presents, Ferdinand praised the signing of Madueke, claiming the player was a victim of circumstance by simply coming in through the door ahead of Gyokeres.

“[Martin] Zubimendi has come in, you lost Thomas Partey (released), Jorginho (signed for Flamengo) gone, that’s two midfielders you’ve there. [Kieran, joined Celtic] Tierney, [Nuno, joined Lazio] Tavares gone… a lot was made about Madueke as well,” Ferdinand said.

“I think he’s a good signing, he’s a little bit off the cuff. He gives you something different, and I know what people are saying, yes it’s Chelsea, and you’ve done a lot of business that’s not gone so well with Chelsea, and two, [the Arsenal] fanbase wanted a number nine.

“So if you had signed Gyokeres before Madueke, I don’t think people are shouting as much.” Ferdinand added: “I think Madueke has got a high ceiling. I think he can go places, do well. I think he’s a really good addition.”

Discussing just where Madueke, a winger who can operate on both flanks, will fit into Arteta’s plans, Ferdinand believes he can operate as an understudy for Bukayo Saka and challenge Gabriel Martinelli on the left.

“Now [Arsenal] have got a number nine, Madueke on the left makes sense,” he said. “Because he can go on the outside and cross the ball, you’ve got a number nine with presence in the box who can finish things off so I think it makes sense in many ways now. I think there’s a clearer playing style at Arsenal that might suit him.”

Ferdinand was also on hand to praise Arsenal’s capture of Gyokeres, yet did sound a warning over a stat that demonstrated how the Swedish striker operated somewhat as a flat-track bully in Portugal’s top division last year.

Gyokeres clinched the golden boot In the Primeira Liga last season with 39 goals, while Sporting won a second successive title. However, he only scored twice in eight league games against Benfica, who finished in second, Porto who finished third and against Braga and Santa Clara, who ended up fourth and fifth respectively.

“That would be a flag for me,” Ferdinand said on Gyokeres’ record. “I don’t think it would determine if I’d take him, but it would be something where I’d go, ‘Let me just look back further down the line’ – and then what’s the reason?

“There are question marks, but I just feel, for Arsenal, he’s going to get so many more looks on goal, I don’t think it’s a big gamble for Arsenal. As long as he doesn’t go looking for football outside the box too much. Stay in and around the penalty box and the ball will come.”

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