Arsenal extended their flawless start to the Champions League campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Club Brugge at the Jan Breydelstadion on Wednesday. The result secures a sixth consecutive win for Mikel Arteta’s side, keeping them atop the standings with 18 points and virtually guaranteeing a top-eight finish, which ensures direct qualification to the Round of 16 in March.
For Club Brugge, who recently replaced manager Nicky Hayen with Ivan Leko, the defeat leaves them on four points and in danger of missing the knockout phase entirely.
Noni Madueke was the catalyst for the victory, opening the scoring in the 25th minute with a spectacular individual effort. The winger carried the ball from the halfway line, evading defenders before striking a 20-yard shot in off the crossbar. "The first goal was really nice, second a tap-in, but the first one was sweet," Madueke said.
He doubled his tally just two minutes into the second half, heading in a cross from Martin Zubimendi at the back post. Gabriel Martinelli then secured the result in the 56th minute, curling a right-footed shot into the top corner, making him the first Arsenal player to score in five successive Champions League matches.
Arteta shuffled his pack following the weekend defeat to Aston Villa, making five changes to manage a squad depleted by illness and injury. With Declan Rice absent and Jurriën Timber ruled out, Christian Nørgaard partnered Piero Hincapié in central defense; the team's seventh different center-back partnership this season.
Goalkeeper David Raya was forced into action late in the first half, making crucial saves against Christos Tzolis and Aleksandar Stankovic to preserve the lead. "I think at this level you want to win games, you need individual players to step up and to do something different," Arteta said regarding the impact of his forward line.
The match also featured the long-awaited return of Gabriel Jesus, who appeared as a substitute after nearly a year on the sidelines due to an ACL injury. The Brazilian striker almost marked his comeback with a goal, striking the crossbar in the 79th minute.
In the closing stages, Arteta handed a debut to 16-year-old Marli Salmon, who became the fourth-youngest player to feature for the Gunners. The strong position in the group stage now offers Arsenal the luxury of potentially rotating players for their remaining fixtures against Inter Milan and Kairat.
Despite the loss, Brugge midfielder Aleksandar Stankovic acknowledged the gap in quality, stating they were up against "the best in the world." For Arsenal, the focus remains on silverware across all competitions. "We’re fighting on all fronts. I feel like we can win this competition and win the league; that has to be the aim. We’re in a good place at the moment," Madueke added.
