Noni Madueke scored his first Arsenal goal on Wednesday and challenged the Gunners to “keep pushing boundaries” ahead of their weekend showdown against Chelsea.

Arsenal cruise past Bayern as Madueke returns with a bang

Madueke returned from two months out with a knee injury to score the winning goal in what eventually turned into a comfortable 3-1 win over Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

The 23-year-old, who joined from Chelsea in the summer amid some opposition – and a petition against his signing – from Arsenal fans, replaced the injured Leandro Trossard, as the Gunners continue to struggle to keep all of their forwards fit at once.

Bayern teenager Lennart Karl had cancelled out Jurrien Timber’s opener for the hosts before Madueke tucked in a cross from Mikel Merino after half-time.

Gabriel Martinelli, also back from a spell out, capitalised on goalkeeper Manuel Neuer’s error to hit the third as the Premier League leaders maintained their 100 per cent record in Europe and hit the top of the Champions League table.

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“It was a top night, a great night,” Madueke told Arsenal’s official media channels. “A Champions League night, so it was perfect to get my first goal for the club and for the win on top. It’s a perfect night.

“I had a long injury, it was difficult, but now I’ve made up for it. It’s amazing. I can’t really say much more, just amazing.

“It’s massive, it’s massive what we’re producing at the moment, not just in the Champions League but our domestic form, and we need to continue at this level and just keep it going.

“The level we’re playing at right now is incredible and we need to try and keep adapting, keep pushing it, keep pushing boundaries and that’s the only way we can stay there.”

Madueke "can't wait" to play against Chelsea

The big games keep coming for Arsenal, who face a Premier League trip to second-placed Chelsea on Sunday. Defeat at Stamford Bridge would trim their lead at the top of the table to just three points, with Enzo Maresca’s side looking win their fourth consecutive top flight match.

Madueke is looking forward to the trip to his old stomping ground, having left west London in the summer for a fee of up to £52m.

“You go eight weeks without the thing you love the most in the world,” said the winger, who is now one of Arsenal’s highest earners on £150,000-a-week.

“So you are chomping at the bit to just be on the pitch as much as possible. I can’t wait.”

Chelsea have not beaten Arsenal in any competition since a 2-0 victory at the Emirates in August 2021, while each of the last two meetings at Stamford Bridge have ended in score draws.