‘He’s better than Bukayo Saka’ – former Chelsea defender on Noni Madueke | OneFootball

Noni Madueke has had an excellent two games for England during the international break, garnering lots of praise. Although perhaps none more so than from former Chelsea defender Paul Parker.

Speaking to WhichBookie, Parker claimed that Madueke is better than injured Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka.

He said: “Chelsea let Noni Madueke go to Arsenal even though he’s one of England’s best wingers, and he was probably their best player against Andorra. He came on when Arsenal were behind against Liverpool and I think he looked really positive. I thought it was a strange decision for Chelsea to let him go.

“With the way he plays, I actually think he’s better than Bukayo Saka. Saka doesn’t go on the outside, he doesn’t have a great change of pace and he doesn’t frighten defenders. Madueke does strike that fear into defenders because he wants to run at players and go past them.”

Arsenal fans may not agree with Parker’s statements, but the former Chelsea and Manchester United player went even further. He remarked that in his opinion new Chelsea winger Estevao also has more to offer than Saka.

“The problem is that Saka is like a God to Arsenal fans. He knows he’s going to play every game. We used to call Paul Ince ‘The 11th hour’, because, like Saka, he’d always be out injured until just before the game, then would declare himself fit.

“That makes everyone say, ‘oh isn’t he brave’. Saka is the same. I just don’t get the hype around him. I really don’t understand it. I wouldn’t take him over someone like Estevao at Chelsea.

“You’d rather take a chance on him because he’s got pace and, as a defender, you’re always worried about him getting in behind you. As a defender, you want things to happen in front of you and that’s what Saka does by cutting inside, while Estevao is willing to go both ways to beat his man.”