Madueke brushes off Arsenal fan criticism of his signing and gears up for Chelsea return

Noni Madueke has said he ignored criticism on social media over his move to Arsenal and gained confidence from the reception he has received from the supporters. The England forward scored his first Arsenal goal in Wednesday’s impressive 3-1 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League in his second appearance since returning from a knee injury sustained in September. Madueke said that the injury was “horrible timing” given his good start after joining from Chelsea for £48.5m plus up to £3.5m in bonuses. Related: Declan Rice cranks up volume to show he is Europe’s best player right now | Nick Ames Some supporters voiced opposition online to his arrival and a petition entitled #NOTOMADUEKE was launched. That garnered only 5,000 signees and the 23-year-old insisted he had “taken it all in his stride”. “You are in the public eye, people can say whatever they want about you,” he said. “But being in the stadium, and how the fans have taken to me in the stadium, is unbelievable. I am not really worried about all of that. It is in the distant past. The last game versus Tottenham was incredible and that gives me such a boost. I play on the side of the pitch, I can feel them [the fans], I can hear them. When they are that positive about me it gives me a massive boost. Honestly, I am made up about it.” Arsenal head to Chelsea on Sunday with a six-point lead over them at the top of the Premier League. Madueke is in contention to start for the first time since the 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the end of September, with doubts over Leandro Trossard’s fitness after the Belgium forward limped off against Bayern. Madueke said he was comfortable on either flank and was unsure what reception he would receive from the Chelsea supporters. “It might be a little bit hostile, it might not be, but I am a professional footballer,” he said. “I have played in loads of atmospheres. I don’t know if anything will faze me. I will just be focused on the task.” Asked whether Arsenal were capable of winning the Premier League and Champions League this season, Madueke said: “Our goal going into every game is to win the game. I don’t know if it is great to be thinking so far ahead in November.”