Joe Cole Praises 'Outstanding' Former Chelsea Player, Fans Disagree

Chelsea fans question Joe Cole's assessment of Noni Madueke's performance since leaving the club.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 7:55am

Former Chelsea player Joe Cole has praised Noni Madueke, a winger who left the club in the summer to join Arsenal, calling him an "outstanding" player. However, many Chelsea fans disagree with Cole's assessment, arguing that Madueke was never more than a decent squad player for the club and has not impressed since his move to Arsenal.

Why it matters

This story highlights the differing opinions between pundits and fans when it comes to evaluating player performances. It also touches on the challenges some players face in establishing themselves at top clubs like Chelsea before finding more success elsewhere.

The details

According to the report, Joe Cole believes Madueke is an "outstanding" player and was "gutted" to see him leave Chelsea. However, the author of the article strongly disagrees, arguing that Chelsea fans were not upset to see Madueke go and that he has not lived up to Cole's praise, failing to record a single Premier League assist so far this season.

  • Noni Madueke completed his move from Chelsea to Arsenal in the summer of 2026.

The players

Joe Cole

A former Chelsea player who is now a pundit and commentator.

Noni Madueke

A winger who left Chelsea to join Arsenal in the summer of 2026.

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What they’re saying

“I think he's an outstanding player, I was gutted to see him leave Chelsea. He's gone to Arsenal and I think he's thrived with competition, got [Bukayo] Saka in front of him. He's doing well.”

— Joe Cole, Pundit

The takeaway

This story highlights the differing perspectives between pundits and fans when it comes to evaluating player performances. While Joe Cole sees Noni Madueke as an "outstanding" player, Chelsea fans remain unconvinced, suggesting that the winger was never more than a decent squad player for the club.