A Chance Created by Injury
Madueke has started just one top-flight game this season, the 2-1 win over Leeds eight days before the Forest match. Arsenal's summer was dominated by talk of a search for an elite forward, with the left wing one of the positions they wanted to strengthen. After unsuccessful pursuits of big names such as Vinicius Jr and Julian Alvarez, the only new arrival in that spot was Christos Tzolis, who came in to replace the departing Leandro Trossard.
Tzolis has started the season well and been Arteta's first-choice winger, so Madueke and Eberechi Eze have mostly played from the bench or in the Carabao Cup. Now Tzolis is out with a hamstring injury picked up on Greece duty, which gives Madueke a chance to show he is more than a substitute.
He did well when he started against Leeds, and Arteta said he was the best player at the club during the international break and "grabbed it [his start] with both hands." He then started on the right wing, his more natural side, in Tuesday's Champions League win over Lille and assisted the opening goal.
Against Forest, Arteta brought him on at half-time. Madueke said the instructions were to "hang in there, stick to the gameplan, go out there and try to attack the opposition, be dangerous, be yourself and be good defensively as well." In the 80th minute he took on defender Daniel Munoz, cut inside onto his weaker right foot and scored with a deflected shot. "I'd beaten him on the outside a couple of times so I thought I'll come inside and just let rip," he said.
A Player the Dressing Room Loves
Arsenal fans haven't always warmed to Madueke since his move from Chelsea. A "No to Madueke" petition appeared when he signed, and his form has been criticised as inconsistent. Still, since his £48.5m arrival he has helped the club win its first Premier League title in 22 years and played a big part in reaching the Champions League final. Last season he scored eight goals and made four assists in 43 appearances in all competitions, though questions about his end product remain. He is one of Arsenal's most direct players, and England manager Thomas Tuchel and his staff rate him as one of the best in one-versus-one situations.
Arteta spoke warmly about him. "Noni, look at me, a smile on my face because he is a special character," he said. He added that Madueke is "very much loved in and around the dressing room" and recalled an interview in which some players said they would call Noni if they had a problem. "I think it is a massive credit and describes the type of person he is."
The 24-year-old has now delivered three good performances in a row. "After the break, he is showing something else, another level of anger, another level of conviction," Arteta said, adding that he is becoming decisive in matches. Madueke doesn't mind playing left or right, but he has played far more minutes on the right, and Arteta said the team needs him there at the moment.
Why the Finishers Matter
Arteta has made a point of calling his substitutes "finishers" to stress the importance of the whole squad, and it seems to be working. Since the start of last season, Arsenal substitutes have contributed to 26 Premier League goals, more than any other side. Bruno Guimaraes scored the winner off the bench against Leeds, and substitutes Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and captain Martin Odegaard played a major role in the last two goals against Lille.
Arteta isn't worried about relying too heavily on the bench. "There have been other games as well that we have had to score in the first half," he said. "We have played 11 competitive matches and we won 10." He expected few chances against a well-organised Forest side at the City Ground, but believed that once the physical level dropped, spaces would open up. "And the finishers delivered because the context of the game changed a little bit."
