Arsenal extended their flawless run in the Champions League as Noni Madueke struck twice in a confident victory over Club Brugge. Mikel Arteta refreshed his side after the defeat to Aston Villa, and one of his incoming players provided the crucial early breakthrough.
Madueke muscled past a marker and unleashed a fierce drive from a distance that cannoned in off the bar to give the hosts control of the contest. Although the visitors generated pressure before the interval, David Raya kept Arsenal ahead with sharp stops from Christos Tzolis and Aleksandar Stankovic.
Just moments after the restart, Madueke increased the advantage by meeting Martin Zubimendi’s precise delivery with a firm header. Gabriel Martinelli then produced a brilliant finish midway through the second half, bending in Arsenal’s third to put the match beyond reach.
The result edges the Premier League side closer to the last 16, with their tally of 18 points already surpassing what was needed for a top-eight place the previous campaign.
Squad changes prove effective
Supporters had urged Arteta to rotate amid a demanding run of matches and a growing injury list, and the manager responded with five alterations. Christian Norgaard partnered with Piero Hincapie in central defense, marking the seventh different pairing used by Arsenal this season.
While the performance occasionally lacked sharpness, their position in the group allowed them to manage the slower passages without severe consequence. They successfully navigated a testing period just before halftime, then asserted dominance once the match resumed.
The second-half surge ensured a calmer finish and showed the benefits of spreading minutes throughout the squad. Madueke and Martinelli’s contributions allowed Arteta to hand playing time to key returnees in a controlled setting.
The win also maintained Arsenal’s strong European momentum, reinforcing their confidence ahead of the remainder of the group stage.
With a lighter workload required late in the game, Arteta was able to give opportunities to both returning senior players and emerging talents.
Positive returns and emerging prospects
Gabriel Jesus stepped onto the pitch for the first time in 332 days after recovering from an ACL injury, offering encouraging signs in his cameo. The forward came close to marking his return with a goal, striking the bar from the edge of the area in the closing minutes.
His impact contrasted with Viktor Gyokeres’ more difficult outing, creating an interesting selection puzzle for the upcoming festive fixtures.
The ability to reintroduce Jesus while managing Gyokeres’ form provides Arteta with flexibility during a hectic schedule.
Another bright moment came with the introduction of 16-year-old Marli Salmon, who made his senior debut. The comfortable scoreline and control in the latter stages allowed Arteta to ease the youngster into first-team action.
With additional matches against manageable opponents on the horizon, Arsenal have further chances to rotate as they navigate a busy run of games.
The evening ultimately delivered valuable minutes for several players while cementing Arsenal’s dominance in the competition so far.
