Declan Rice Fires Back at Arsenal Fans Over Brutal Social Media Attack: 'I Didn't Like It'

Arsenal's midfield star Declan Rice has come out in strong support of new signing Noni Madueke, following the mixed reception that greeted the winger's transfer from Chelsea among supporters online.

The North London club confirmed Madueke's signing to a polarized reaction from fans last week. As speculation about the 23-year-old's move intensified, a digital campaign titled #NoToMadueke started gaining momentum. When the transfer was completed, the petition had accumulated over 5,000 signatures.

The objections are varied and largely unrelated to Madueke himself. There's increasing weariness regarding any acquisition from Chelsea, with many questioning Arsenal's decision to spend upwards of £50 million ($67.2 million) on a player unlikely to be an automatic first-choice selection.

Rice expressed his displeasure with the fan response. "I wasn't pleased with it, to be completely honest," he stated to media during Arsenal's Asian pre-season campaign. "But I understand his determination. I've had conversations with him and you'll witness his true character this season.

"I believe he's incredibly motivated and has genuine quality. He's eager to demonstrate his capabilities to everyone and I'm confident you'll see that. There's real ambition burning within him.

"You could see it when he joined - he brought about 10 or 11 people with him, the enthusiasm was evident, which is encouraging. He's ambitious, he's desperate to represent Arsenal and those are exactly the kind of players we need. It's incredibly positive. I believe he'll surprise many people and I'm excited for his arrival."

Madueke possesses impressive measurable attributes. The versatile attacker recorded the highest shot frequency among Premier League wingers last season and ranks as the most successful wide player at turning dribbling situations into scoring chances in the league.

"When you're an offensive player and your instinct is immediately to beat your marker, that's an incredible quality to possess," Rice enthused. "He'll add that dimension to our squad alongside our existing wide players."

When questioned about Madueke's potential limited game time, Rice responded with frustration: "Let's be honest—last season we had virtually no squad depth anywhere. We spent nearly half the campaign dealing with numerous injuries, so having the ability to rotate and compete across different tournaments with various players will be extremely beneficial. That's crucial for our success."