Noni Madueke sends two-word message after Mikel Arteta receives huge Arsenal injury boost

Noni Madueke has responded to England's qualification for the World Cup with a message to his fans. The summer signing from Chelsea has missed the last three weeks with a knee injury but there is hope he will be back before the November international break.

Having participated in Chelsea's Club World campaign, Madueke did not really have a proper pre-season or settling in period, but was very quickly required to make an impact. Bukayo Saka getting injured in the second game of the season meant Madueke was starting games perhaps sooner than Mikel Arteta would have wanted.

Though he was unable to provide a direct goal contribution, Madueke impressed off the right before he was also hit by injury and it was an issue seemingly far worse than Saka's

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The latter replaced him at half-time of the 1-1 draw against Manchester City, four weeks on from picking up a hamstring issue. "It looks he's going to be out for a few weeks," Arteta admitted on Madueke's knee injury at the time.

"We don't know [how long] yet. We're probably going to have to scan him next week again. He felt something at the beginning of the match, he tried to carry on, and at half-time, he was too sore, so let’s see."

It has since been widely reported he is not expected back until mid-November and with another two-week domestic pause around that time, it is unlikely he is seen in an Arsenal shirt before the North London Derby against Tottenham on Sunday, November 23.

While he is yet to get on the scoresheet for his new club, Madueke did grab a goal during the last international break in England's 5-0 win against Serbia. Despite being unavailable for the win that sealed the Three Lions' spot in the 2026 World Cup, Madueke made his feelings clear with a two-word message on Instagram.

Reposting the England qualification graphic to his story, Madueke simply said: "Let's go! [flexed arm emoji]." Bukayo Saka started that victory and got through 61 minutes unscathed with Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Martinelli also recently in action for their respective international teams and not appearing to suffer injuries.

While Arteta would certainly prefer to have Madueke available, there is one major positive from him picking up an injury so early into the season from an Arsenal perspective. Within the first four months of the season, there are three international breaks.

Therefore, being absent during that period means not too many Arsenal fixtures are missed with that highlighted by Madueke being out of action for the last three weeks, but only missing four games.

Having every player available for the busy Christmas run-in will be Arteta's hope with the Gunners having 10 confirmed fixtures from late November until the end of 2025.