Arsenal maintained a perfect run in the Champions League with a 3-0 win over Club Brugge. Noni Madueke scored twice and set the tone for a calm and confident night.
Mikel Arteta changed five players from the team that lost to Aston Villa. One of them made the immediate impact. Madueke pushed past a defender and fired a strong shot from 20 yards. The ball struck the bar and dropped in. It gave Arsenal a fast and clean start.
Club Brugge grew into the game before half-time. They tested Arsenal’s rotated defence, but David Raya reacted well. He saved from Christos Tzolis and Aleksandar Stankovic to keep Arsenal ahead.
Madueke struck again early in the second half. He met Martin Zubimendi’s fine cross with a simple header. Gabriel Martinelli then made it 3-0 with a curling shot into the far corner. Arsenal controlled the rest of the match with ease.
There were more pleasing moments for the home side. Gabriel Jesus returned after 342 days out with an ACL injury. Sixteen-year-old Marli Salmon also came on for his debut. Jesus almost marked his return with a goal, but his effort from the edge of the box hit the bar.
Arsenal now have 18 points, already more than enough to secure progress last season. They look on course to reach the last 16 without needing the February play-offs.
Arteta had been urged to rotate because of the injury list and the heavy schedule. He did so here. Christian Norgaard partnered Piero Hincapié at centre-back, forming the team’s seventh different pairing of the season.
The first half was uneven at times. Arsenal lost control in short spells, but they handled the danger when needed. Once Madueke and Martinelli scored after the break, the match settled. Arsenal played with calm and confidence.
The comfortable lead allowed Arteta to manage minutes. Jesus looked sharp in his half-hour, showing more threat than Viktor Gyokeres, who struggled to get involved. Arteta will now weigh both players carefully as the Christmas fixtures arrive.
A stretched squad needs relief. This match, like the one against Wolves, gave Arsenal a chance to rotate and still win. They did the job and kept their Champions League numbers perfect.
