Mikel Arteta finally admits Noni Madueke transfer truth after Arsenal backlash

Noni Madueke proved his critics wrong again after great Arsenal performance vs Nottingham Forest. (Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Club football is back. From an Arsenal perspective , the international break felt like an age and, even though it is enjoyable to see so many representatives from the club in action, there is also the risk of injury.

Yet a three-goal victory over Nottingham Forest is certainly worth the wait for those eager to have the Gunners back in action. A match that included some eye-catching moments, individual pieces of brilliance and a stand-out man-of-the-match to shut down the critics.

It was interesting to hear Mikel Arteta justify elements of his selection based upon how he had seen his stars play during the break. Mikel Merino was the main highlight whose inclusion over Declan Rice certainly raised eyebrows an hour before kick-off.

"Yes, as well, because Mikel [Merino] comes after scoring four goals in two games - with a really high emotional state," he said. "I want to use that, when a player is in that moment, I want to play him, because it's going to bring something different with the qualities that they have.

"Declan comes in and he will have an impact immediately; he'll play the next game and that's what we need to try to manage the best possible way."

The Spaniard rightly points towards the concern surrounding rotation and the management of minutes as a further reason for Merino's inclusion. There was a stark reminder of the issues that still face the squad in the first half.

Martin Odegaard, who is still seemingly suffering from the shoulder injury that forced him off against Leeds, was forced off injured a week before the visit of Manchester City.

It is far from ideal, and his replacement, Ethan Nwaneri, who was also brought on in the second matchday, didn't necessarily vindicate fans who thought he should have perhaps started at Anfield.

Despite the Odegaard concerns, everything else on the afternoon went to plan. Martin Zubimendi will steal the attention in terms of goal contributions, and rightly so.

Brought in to be the new anchor of the Arsenal midfield, a player who will disrupt play but predominantly upgrade the way the side progresses the ball up the field. He was not necessarily brought in to be a player to strike a ball on the volley from far out.

And certainly not to pop up with his sub-six-foot frame and head past the golden glove-winning goalkeeper from last season, Matz Sels. But Arsenal and Arteta will take it.

Viktor Gyokeres is a player who, from an Arsenal perspective in particular, simply cannot be analysed in the usual way. Throughout his tenure, we have been exposed to Arteta demanding very different things from his centre-forwards, with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus operating more as false nines. While Gyokeres isn't that, he did offer some elements in this game that we've not seen before; he did drop short to receive the ball or flick passes around the corner.

One moment in which he found Merino, only for the Spaniard to check back and pass to Riccardo Calafiori, was rather frustrating. But there are perhaps signs of evolution from the Swede. In the end, all that matters is that he scores, and that he did.

A great cross from Eberechi Eze after yet another long ball down the left from Calafiori, and the Swede taps in. These are the goals he needs to be fed more regularly - and it is the quick transitions from the defensive to the attacking third that are going to bring about the chances on a more regular basis.

But this is all the set-up for the conversation about the player of the day, Noni Madueke. It would be fair to say that Bukayo Saka's absence was not felt, and that is about as high a compliment you can pay to someone starting on the right for Arsenal in this current team. He was excellent.

What was so good about his play was his ability to beat the man and drive into the box. Beyond Saka, Arsenal have lacked that element somewhat of late, and both Madueke and Eze showcased this in swathes.

Arteta finally admitted after the match he had indeed heard of the reaction around the signing. But told reporters after the match that this had clearly not bothered him in the slightest and he was relishing coming to the club.

"Yeah, a lot of courage, that's how I describe it," he said. "Obviously, a lot of quality, but a lot of courage.

"We were about to sign him and there was that reaction around him. I spoke to him and he was like, pzzzt, I go for it, I can't wait to put that shirt on and play for you guys.

"I said, well, let's bring him. If I was convinced before, I'm more convinced now that he's going to do it and yeah, I think he has such a power, such a capacity to repeat efforts.

"Because to be able to do that physically, you have to have a different specimen, I think. And he's certainly that. But he's very skilful, very unpredictable, so willing to learn and he brings joy.

"I look at him and he's always smiling, he's always trying things. He gets one wrong, he goes again. And that's what I love about the creative players, because you need that to be successful."

His performance - and that of his teammates - certainly put a smile on the faces of all associated with the club. It puts the pressure on to Liverpool and sits them, for now, top of the Premier League table.

Up next is a trip to Bilbao. Asking Mikel Arteta after the press conference for some recommendations for a city he loves, he said that we could do no wrong!

We'll have coverage from the Basque Country as the Gunners' UEFA Champions League run gets underway.