Arsenal is reportedly nearing an agreement to acquire winger Noni Madueke from Chelsea for just over £50 million, causing some discontent among Gunners fans.
A petition opposing the move has garnered over 4,000 signatures, the hashtag #NoToMadueke is trending on X, and murals outside the Emirates Stadium have been defaced with messages like 'Arteta out'.
At 23, Madueke is already an England international, so why is his potential signing meeting resistance?
What are the fans saying?
Arsenal has signed six players from Chelsea in recent years, and Madueke would be the second this transfer window, following goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Some fans feel the club should target what they consider 'bigger' names.
For instance, the Gunners have been linked with Real Madrid's Rodrygo and Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze.
Gunners fan Steve expressed his views: "It's underwhelming, really. A lot of money for a backup player. He won't be a first-team choice over [Bukayo] Saka on the right or [Gabriel] Martinelli on the left.
"They should have pursued a cheaper backup and allocated funds to secure the [Viktor] Gyokeres deal.
"Some Arsenal fans were hoping for Rodrygo. This won't happen now as funds are limited.
"Is Madueke the type of player to win the Premier League? No, Rodrygo is, which is why there's disappointment among Arsenal supporters."
Andrew, a season ticket holder, highlighted a divide between match-going fans and social media users.
"The key word is 'online'," Andrew noted. "Those signing petitions aren't true Arsenal fans. They live in a social media fantasy where football is like a video game.
"As a season ticket holder, I trust Arteta's judgment because he's often right.
"Madueke might not be thrilling now, but he could prove valuable.
"[Nico] Williams was never an option, Rodrygo is overpriced, [Anthony] Gordon is overrated, and this doesn't affect Eze. We'll see how it unfolds."
Will believes the frustration stems from the financial aspect of the deal with Chelsea.
"I reckon over half the fans don't think Madueke is a bad player. It's the nature of the deal - £50 million for a player likely to sit behind Saka or look out of place on the left wing seems poor business, especially in a crucial season for silverware.
"It's also about the money going to Chelsea."
Where could Madueke play?
Madueke is part of Chelsea's Club World Cup squad and appeared as a substitute in their 2-0 victory over Fluminense to reach the final.
He joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023 for £30 million and has scored 20 goals in 92 appearances.
Having previously been in Tottenham's academy, he moved to the Netherlands in 2018.
Madueke primarily plays on the right, where Saka dominates at Arsenal, having played 88% of his Premier League minutes there.
Saka, 23, started 108 of 114 league matches from 2021-22 to 2023-24 but missed three months last season due to a hamstring injury.
Madueke would be a capable backup for Saka but can also operate on the left.
He impressed during the recent international break, providing an assist for Harry Kane's winning goal against Andorra, one of three assists in his first seven matches.
Madueke also started four of Chelsea's final five Premier League matches on the left side, including the Conference League final, potentially competing with Martinelli there.
Why he can be a success at Arsenal
Arsenal views Madueke as a good fit, given his consistent trophy-winning first-team football experience over the past two seasons.
He has adapted well on the international stage, and at 23, there is optimism about his continued development and value increase.
While Arsenal has previously signed players from Chelsea, there are success stories among those acquisitions.
Forward Kai Havertz has become vital to the Gunners, midfielder Jorginho is one of Arteta's most trusted leaders, and Kepa joined after an impressive season at Bournemouth.
Sources around Arsenal suggest the initial fee for Madueke is under £50 million, less than Newcastle's move for Anthony Elanga and Tottenham's signing of Mohammed Kudus.
How does Madueke compare to Arsenal's wingers?
Examining the statistics, it's clear why Arteta might be excited about signing Madueke.
His expected goals (9.6), number of shots (80), touches in the opposition box (199), and progressive carries (242) were all higher than Martinelli and Saka in the Premier League last season.
Saka played 25 league matches compared to Madueke's 32, making a fairer comparison with Martinelli, who played 33 times.
Last season, Madueke contributed a combined 10 goals and assists to Chelsea, potentially boosting Arsenal's much-criticized attack.
Injuries plagued Arteta's side last season, and they ended with limited attacking options as they fell away in the title race.
Madueke is one of the league's most direct wingers, and Arsenal, who frequently face teams with deep defensive lines, could benefit from his style.
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