Why Noni Madueke is getting booed after every touch of the ball for Arsenal vs Wolves
Madueke has received a frosty reception from the home fans at Molineux.
Arsenal star Noni Madueke is being booed by Wolves fans every time he has touched the the ball during the Premier League match between the two sides - for an unusual reason.
Madueke kept his place from the start against the Premier League's bottom club after scoring in each of his last two games.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta lined up with Madueke on the right side of attack, with Bukayo Saka shifting in-field to play behind striker Viktor Gyokeres.
It was a tactical decision that appeared to pay off within five minutes, as Saka gave Arsenal the lead from close range following a Declan Rice cross.
Before the goal, Madueke was greeted by boos from Wolves fans whenever he received the ball - and that continued even after Arsenal took the advantage at Molineux.
Advert
The reception appears to date back to August 2024, when Madueke was preparing for a match at Wolves while playing for Chelsea.
Taking to Instagram the day before the game, the winger posted an update to his story alongside the caption: "Everything about this place is s**t."
Madueke went on to score a hat-trick in a huge 6-2 win for the Blues, before using his post-match interview to apologise to Wolves fans.
"I just want to apologise to everyone that I might have offended," he said (via BBC Sport). "It is just a human mistake, an accident. It wasn't meant to be out on my socials like that.
"I'm sure Wolverhampton is a nice town and I'm sorry.
"It was a mistake and you learn from those things. Hopefully nothing like that happens again.
"In terms of the boos, I expected it but it is part of the game. You have to be able to play under that sort of pressure."
After 18 months, Wolves fans clearly haven't forgotten the winger's post - although their attentions quickly turned towards the prospect of yet another Premier League defeat in what has a nightmare season for the club.
They had picked up seven points in their last eight matches before Tuesday night, including their first win of the season, having recorded two draws and 16 losses in their opening 18 games prior to that run.
Rob Edwards' side entered the week on nine points, meaning they are 18 points away from Premier League safety with 11 games to play
Topics: Arsenal, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Premier League, Football, Chelsea
Ryan Smart