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The sight of Noni Madueke flying past defenders and putting dangerous crosses into the penalty area will have been a welcome sight for Mikel Arteta.<\/b><\/p>\n
And Madueke’s performance in Arsenal<\/a>‘s 4-0 hammering of Leeds<\/a> will have been even more well received, given that he was drafted into the starting line-up minutes before kick-off after Bukayo Saka picked up a hip injury in the warm-up.<\/p>\n The 23-year-old created Martin Zubimendi’s opener, before seeing his corner punched into the Leeds<\/a> net by goalkeeper Karl Darlow for the Gunners’ second, as Arteta’s men moved seven points clear at the Premier League summit.<\/p>\n Madueke was signed by Arsenal<\/a> from Chelsea<\/a> this summer – with some fans questioning the move<\/a> – in a bid to strengthen their squad depth and provide cover should key man Saka pick up injuries.<\/p>\n And the England winger showed in his 60 minutes on the pitch just why the club made that decision.<\/p>\n Arteta said: “He was ready. Because you cannot do that in two minutes. The way he prepares, the way he’s waiting for opportunity, I think paid off today because he really impacted the team.”<\/p>\n While Arsenal<\/a> are waiting for a diagnosis on the extent of Saka’s injury, Madueke will be hopeful he has earned another start for Tuesday’s EFL Cup semi-final second leg against former club Chelsea<\/a>.<\/p>\n Saka and Madueke are also competing for a place for England as the summer’s World Cup approaches. So will the latter now get the chance to start staking his own claim?<\/p>\n “Noni Madueke was really good, especially when you come so late into the game,” former England midfielder Fara Williams told the BBC’s Final Score.<\/p>\n “It is an opportunity for him and he has performed well. When he went in at Arsenal<\/a> and Saka got injured, he had an opportunity to get some games, then he got injured himself.<\/p>\n “When he has been playing for England, he has shown what he can do. He will be a headache for both managers, Mikel Arteta and Thomas Tuchel, in the summer.”<\/p>\n Ex-Manchester United<\/a> striker Dion Dublin added on Final Score: “Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke are both internationals, and both doing an incredible job.<\/p>\n “Saka will likely start [for Arsenal<\/a> and England] because he is the better of the two, and he is more consistent. But it is a great headache to have.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n