Nono Madueke is arriving at Arsenal for £52m (credit Timmy96).
It is under 50 miles from Cobham to London Colney on the M25.
So, it is no surprise that Chelsea players would want to come to Arsenal, potentially avoiding moving home and taking kids out of schools.
Here’s a Chelsea to Arsenal 13 between 1966-2025
In Goal: Petr Cech
Back three: David Luiz, William Gallas, Kai Havertz
Midfield: Lassana Diarra, Yossi Benayoun, Jorginho
Forwards: Willian, Tommy Baldwin, George Graham, Noni Madueke
Subs: Raheem Sterling , Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Moves from Arsenal to Chelsea are far less frequent, and apart from Ashley Cole (where William Gallas was part of the package), ex-Arsenal players didn’t move directly, but after moves to an intermediate club. It illustrates the different nature of the two clubs with the throughput of players at Chelsea far greater than Arsenal, whose players tend to stay longer.
Emannuel Petit moved to Chelsea in 2001, Nicolas Anelka in 2008, Cesc Fabregas in 2014 and Olivier Giroud in 2018.
Financial reason behind Madueke sale
Chelsea have been fined €31m (£26.8m) for breaching UEFA financial rules, which could increase to €91m (£78.5m) if they don’t comply within four years. They may also face a ban from registering new players for the Champions League unless they balance their books.
The club agreed to pay an unconditional fine of €20m (£17.3m) for not complying with UEFA’s ‘football earnings rule’, which could increase to €80m (£69m) if they don’t meet targets. Additionally, Chelsea will pay a further €11m (£9.5m) fine for breaching the ‘squad cost rule’.
So, the Madueke deal to Arsenal will help them out of a spot.
It will also allow new right-wing addition, Estevao Willian a clear development path.
Some question whether Arsenal should help a rival, but they get a squad player, albeit and expensive one at £52m (around £45m +addons), who can fill in on the right and play on the left wing, and has potential.
It also offers Arsenal’s attack the potential of an in-match change, with Madueke’s ability with his left foot to go on the outside on the left and inside on the right wing.
He offers something different to Saka, who is more intricate. Madueke is good at riding tackles and was 3rd in the Premier League with carries into the box at 3.92, behind Doku and Silvinho. It is a very useful quality versus low blocks, and his carry into the box ratio is better than Saka’s at 2.61. He is more direct and had 3.58 shots per game. He also had 6.97 progressive carries compared to Saka’s 5.04 per game.
He is comfortable taking on two players without an overlapping back and can carry at speed on breakaways.
His downside is decision making. Making the right decision at speed is difficult, and in that respect reminds of Theo Walcott, or going back a bit Perry Groves. The tendency is to shoot, rather than pass.
Arsenal’s rivals have four or five wingers in each club, and with Trossard potentially leaving, Madueke brings up the numbers.
But the move certainly confirms that squad depth costs a lot these days.