Madueke played a key role in Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Hull City, producing the shot that goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis could only parry before Martin Ødegaard converted the rebound for the decisive goal.
The England international has taken advantage of Bukayo Saka’s absence in recent weeks, but Arteta believes the foundations for his improved performances were laid earlier in the campaign, when he was struggling to secure regular minutes.
Speaking after the win, the Arsenal manager explained how Madueke responded to being left out before the first international break. Rather than accepting the situation, the winger used the time to work on his fitness and condition.
“He is a great example for the rest of the group because before the first international break he wasn't playing. What he did, instead of going on holiday, was go to Portugal and get someone to train with him. He got himself into better shape and better condition, and immediately he got back into the rhythm.
“You can see now that he is full of confidence, trying things and getting past players. He is impacting games with goals and assists, and we are very happy with that.”
Arteta’s praise reflects the importance of Madueke’s attitude as much as his performances. The winger recognised that he needed to improve his physical condition and took responsibility for doing so, returning ready to compete for a place in the team.
The manager also pointed to the importance of consistency and results after Arsenal extended their winning run to five consecutive Premier League matches. The narrow victory over Hull was another example of the side finding a way through a difficult contest, even though they could have scored more.
“Today we tried to find consistency and continuity in our performance, knowing that we would need those things to beat them. We had some great moments when I think we should have scored a few more goals, but we didn't manage to do it. We deserved the goal at the end.”
Arteta was equally keen to recognise the wider contribution of his squad during a demanding period.
“Getting results is very, very important, and I think we have to praise our players for the way they approach every single game. We have done really well since the international break and up to this point in the season.”
Madueke’s influence against Hull was not limited to the decisive attacking moment. He repeatedly took on defenders and created problems, although his own frustration was visible after missing opportunities to score.
Arteta will want that confidence and willingness to take responsibility to continue, particularly while Saka remains unavailable. Madueke has responded impressively to his earlier lack of opportunities, and the manager's message is that the winger's work away from the pitch has helped him become an increasingly important contributor to Arsenal's attack.