When Thomas Tuchel named his latest England squad last week, the core that has been established at Arsenal was evident.

The Gunners had five players included for upcoming Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain. It is not just more than any other club, but more than the other five of the traditional ‘Big Six’ combined.

That is despite Bukayo Saka not being involved due to the quad injury he suffered against Bayern Munich last month.

Even with such strong representation, it was an Arsenal player not included in Tuchel’s squad who attracted the most attention.

Noni Madueke can feel incredibly hard done by to miss out on a return to the England setup.

He has stepped up significantly since the last international break and filled the void left by Saka in the Arsenal side as well as, or perhaps even better than, anyone could have expected.

The winger has three goals and an assist in his last nine appearances, eight of which have been starts. It is the best run of consistent minutes of his Arsenal career.

As unfortunate as he has been to not make the cut for England, Madueke’s exclusion should be to Arsenal’s benefit.

It is understood that Madueke will be flying abroad during this international break for some warm-weather training - something Mikel Arteta has happily signed off on.

The winger is viewing it as a period to build on his best run in an Arsenal shirt and he is determined to maintain the sharpness and intensity that has impressed Arteta in recent weeks.

Different Noni: Mikel Arteta has been thrilled by Madueke’s recent progress at Arsenal

PA

The plan is for Madueke to then return to Arsenal’s training ground at London Colney towards the start of next week to begin preparations for Arsenal’s trip to Newcastle.

It is a formula that has worked well for Madueke and Arteta is keen for it to be replicated.

The last international break, when the 24-year-old was also not called up by Tuchel, was something of a turning point for Madueke.

Up to that stage in the season, he had played just 23 minutes of Premier League football. Madueke was very much on the periphery of Arteta’s thinking.

One of the few first-team players not called up by their country, the extended three-week break offered Madueke the chance to switch off from football if he wanted to.

Instead, he flew to Portugal, not for a holiday but to train in the sun. Madueke asked for an individual training programme, determined to build his sharpness and prove a point to Arteta and Tuchel. He trained hard through the international break.

When Madueke then returned to Arsenal’s training ground, Arteta and his coaching staff were convinced they had a “different Noni” in front of them. Madueke’s commitment during that time in Portugal made a real impression on Arteta.

Even as the full squad gradually returned from international duty, it was still Madueke catching Arteta’s eye.

Arteta had been frustrated with Madueke earlier in the season, believing he was not doing enough to merit more opportunities.

That stance changed over the last international break. Messages that were not being taken on board sufficiently earlier in the season were now getting the response Arteta demanded.

The sense from the Arsenal manager was that Madueke could not have done more to force his way into the team and he deserved to be rewarded.

In the first match back after that international break, Madueke started ahead of Eberechi Eze on the left wing against Leeds.

“He’s been the best player in the last 10 days,” Arteta said of Madueke’s training performances. “He gave me no option not to select him and not to play him today.”

Madueke was starting to make the left wing shirt his own but Saka’s injury necessitated a switch back to the right. He has played the full 90 minutes in every Premier League and Champions League match since then.

In a short space of time, Madueke has made himself undroppable. No player in the Premier League is creating more chances per 90 minutes this season. His figure of 3.57 is more than double what he produced last term.

Snubbed: Madueke has been omitted from each of Thomas Tuchel’s last two England squads

AFP/Getty

Against Hull on Saturday, Madueke had more touches in the opposition box than any Arsenal player has managed in the league all season.

There is a relentlessness to the way Madueke attacks. He does not stop running at his man.

In the past, too much of that has felt chaotic, relying on high volume to cover for a lack of efficiency. Increasingly, Madueke is delivering the end product that has been the missing piece of his game.

Speaking after the Hull match, Arteta laid down the challenge to Madueke. Now he has had a “different Noni” at his disposal, Arteta wants even more.

“He’s been incredible,” the Arsenal manager said. “Now you are in that position, now you need to hold it and improve it, and he can still do that. So let’s see what he does in this break.”