Arsenal forward Noni Madueke has named Super Eagles defender Ola Aina as the toughest opponent he has come up against in his career, Soccernet.ng reports.
Aina, who currently plays for Nottingham Forest, has been one of the Premier League’s standout full-backs since joining the club in 2023.
The Nigerian defender played a crucial role in helping the club secure a return to Europe after qualifying for the UEFA Europa League
His consistent performances made him the subject of transfer speculation last summer, but he ultimately committed his future to the Tricky Trees.
Although an injury affected his participation earlier in the campaign, he has returned and re-established himself as a mainstay in the squad.
Madueke, who joined Arsenal from Chelsea last summer, has faced Aina five times so far in his career and has only tasted victory once.
Both players recently faced off during Arsenal’s goalless draw against Nottingham Forest last month.
In an interview posted on X, the England international did not hesitate to name Aina as the toughest full-back he has faced in his career. Noticeably, he highlighted Aina's physical strength as well as his ball-playing abilities.
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“Mad strong, mad physical.”
Noni Madueke speaks on how tough it is to play against Super Eagles of Nigeria defender, Ola Aina. pic.twitter.com/PscFleiUeB
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“I’m going to give Ola Aina his flowers. Played against him a couple of times. He’s mad strong, mad physical,” the former Chelsea man said.
“But, he’s also good on the ball. Some people probably wouldn’t give him the credit for that.”
Ola Aina Continues to Shine For Nottingham Forest
Despite an injury-disrupted season, Aina has still managed 16 appearances across all competitions for Nottingham Forest this term.
In fact, as proof of his quality, coach Sean Dyche, who was in charge when Aina just returned from injury, did not waste any time before reinstating the Nigerian international to his position once he was passed fit.
Nottingham Forest are still in the mix for Europa League glory. They just need to avoid a loss against Fenerbahce in the second leg of their round of 16 playoffs.
On the other hand, they are battling to preserve their Premier League status at the end of the season. Nottingham Forest currently sit 17th in the English top-flight, two points above the relegation zone.
If they get relegated, Aina will likely prefer to leave. Nonetheless, new coach Vitor Pereira has many quality players on his roster. He should be able to spur his side and avoid Championship football.
