Club Brugge 0-3 Arsenal
Champions League report 
by Layth Yousif in Bruges

INJURY crisis? What injury crisis?

Arsenal underlined their strength in depth, as well as huge reserves of character after Mikel Arteta’s side swept aside the challenge of Bruges in Belgium on Wednesday evening.

A brace from two-goal hero Noni Madueke, a £48.5m summer arrival from Chelsea - the first an outstanding long-range effort - was supplemented by Gabi Martinelli’s equally excellent shot from outside the box, as the Gunners displayed their quality to post their sixth victory on the bounce in the Champions League, leaving them on the verge of automatic qualification.

The triumph also ensured the visitors from North London shrugged off their frustrating late loss at the hands of Aston Villa, despite Arteta making five changes to the side that lost 2-1 at Villa Park at the weekend.

A relieved Arteta said after the match: “It’s a really positive evening and I think it’s very difficult to win away from home in the Champions League. 

“We’ve done it with a lot of absences, especially in the backline.”
 

Christian Norgaard started at centre back, alongside Piero Hincapie, as the club’s seventh central defensive partnership already this season, while fit again Viktor Gyokeres was named as striker.

No Jurrien Timber or Declan Rice in the squad due to illness, but Riccardo Calafiori, Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze all dropped to the bench. The Gunners boss also opting for four academy players as substitutes, including the precocious Marli Salmon, who broke a number of records during his cameo appearance.

Aged just 16 years and 103, when replacing Ben White on 83 minutes at the Jan Breydalstadion, Salmon became the 296th player to play in a match in European competition for the Gunners, while also becoming the 925th to play a competitive first team game for the club, dating back to 1886. Salmon also became the fourth youngest player to feature in Arsenal’s first team, after Ethan Nwaneri, Max Dowman and Jack Porter.

While Arteta may have admitted Arsenal were in a “really dangerous circle” as their injury crisis got worse over the weekend - with the news that talented teen Max Dowman will be out for several weeks with ankle ligament damage - they certainly didn’t show any fear against the Belgians. Even if, as if to underline matters still further, two-goal hero Madueke broke a finger on his left hand early on during the match.

Club Brugge started the evening down in 28th place, two points off the top 24 in the league phase, having posted a single triumph in their five matches so far.

Their domestic performance mirrored their Euro problems, with three defeats in their last four matches across all competitions, with Ivan Leko’s appointment on Monday after a run of one win in seven across all competitions.

Their loss at the weekend - dropping to third in the Belgium standings, after Sint-Truidense VV came from behind to defeat the 19-time champions of Belgium, and close the gap on Royale Union Saint-Gilloise at the top - saw Brugge part company with previous boss Nicky Hayen.

Yet Bruges deserved not be underestimated given they drew 3-3 with La Liga giants Barcelona last month, and had a passionate home support cheering them on throughout the match. Even if they started with third choice keeper Dani van den Heuvel in goal, after their former Liverpool netminder Simon Mignolet, who had been down as first choice on the teamsheet, was injured in the warm-up.

Long-term issues also ruled out Ludovit Reis and Lynnt Audoor, while Romeo Vermant was still undergoing concussion protocols.

Arsenal underlined their intent after only 120 seconds, when Gunners skipper Martin Odegaard tested Bruges keeper van den Heuvel, who was once on the books of Leeds United, with a shot from the edge of the area.

The match had barely begun in earnest when the home fans sang loudly in support of their former boss Hayen, prior to Arsenal hitting the post on 21 minutes. Myles Lewis-Skelly unleashing a low drive into a crowded box, which Hincapie appeared to touch onto the woodwork, onto van den Heuve’s right-hand side.

Two minutes later, Bruges’ No7 Nicolo Tresoldi tested Raya with a near post effort, after the home side swept forward through striker Carlos Forbs.

On 25 minutes Arsenal’s Madueke put the Gunners with a superb long-range effort, after powering at heart of the backpedalling Bruges backline, before unleashing a scorcher that flew past van den Heuvel to end up in the top corner of the goal to make it 1-0.

There was so much to admire when watching Madueke’s superb strike, marvelling at the way the ball seemed to gather speed once struck, as if increasing in velocity while flying towards the net. Yet it was also satisfying to note the 23-year-old’s intelligence, courage, and positivity when starting the move.

After a spot of nifty footwork, Madueke proved simply far too strong for his first opponent, Joaquin Seys, as he powered past the hapless No65, also displaying such strength and agility, as he continued to build momentum.

Next to attempt to – and fail – to halt the now speeding Madueke, was Bruges captain, No15, Raphael Onyedika, but again, Madueke was just too forceful for his opponent, imperiously brushing him aside.

With space opening up in front of him - surely far more than during an average Premier League game – Madueke drove on before unleashing a superb effort from distance. Prior to joyously running to the Arsenal bench to celebrate with his manager, the staff, and teammates.

It wasn’t just an excellent long-range distance, it also showcased Madueke’s superb athleticism, vigour and eye for goal. The whole package was wonderful to watch, from start to finish.

Unsurprisingly, the travelling Arsenal support at the other end erupted in joy, enjoying themselves most heartily, massed as they were in the Bruges away end. As they had been earlier in the day when savouring the pre-holiday atmosphere, after imbibing merrily in this wonderful medieval town’s numerous welcoming hostelries and Christmas markets.

In fact, such was their festive cheer, they even turned Wham’s Last Christmas into a ditty praising Martin Zubimendi, singing loudly about the fact. Deservedly so, given the Basque’s assist for Madueke’s opener, with a second to follow in the second half. 

Strangely, given his class and quality, it was the first time in his career spanning 256 matches that the 26-year-old San Sebastian-born midfielder provided two assists in the same match.

Yet, Bruges refused to be deterred, with Carlos Forbs - who spent eight years at Manchester City’s academy, prior to a loan spell at Wolves when with Ajax - continued to cause problems for Lewis-Skelly along the right flank, when driving at the left-back. On one such occasion Forbs cut the ball to Tresoldi, but the No7’s cheeky back-heeled effort failed to trouble Raya. 

Alexsandar Stankovic nearly levelled six minutes before the interval, but his superb curling effort flew narrowly the wrong side of Raya’s left-hand post.

Bruges continued to pressure the Gunners defence when pushing for an equaliser, with Raya saving two efforts in a matter of moments before the break.

Firstly, from Christos Tzolis curling effort on 42 minutes - prior to denying the lively Stankovic after Hans Vanaken’s ball over the top - as Arsenal went into the break a somewhat fortuitous 1-0 ahead.

However, the Gunners showed their quality at the start of the second half, as Madueke doubled the visitors lead. Arsenal’s second goal coming from the former Chelsea attacker’s close-range header, after getting on the end of Zubimendi’s cross - as the former Real Sociedad midfielder posted his second assist of a profitable evening.

Ever the perfectionist, Arteta said of Madueke’s performance afterwards: “Unbelievable [first] goal. That’s individual quality and magic moments,” before adding pointedly, “it’s when you do it for ten games in a row, every three days. That’s the level [Madueke] has to hit.”

The Gunners were rampant by now, with Martinelli making it 3-0 with a sublime long-range effort on 56 minutes.

With 15 minutes remaining, substitute Bjorn Meijer went close with a low effort which flew the wrong side of Raya’s woodwork, but there was still time for the heartening sight of Jesus making an appearance before Christmas – Arsenal’s Gabriel – in his first outing in 342 days, following the Brazil striker’s torn ACL twelve months ago.

In beguiling Bruges, the day started in this beautiful city medieval city with a trip to see a magnificent Michelangelo, at the Onze-Liece-Vrouwekerk Musuem, and ended with magic from Madueke and Martinelli in front of 26,464 spectators at the Jan Breydelstadion, as Arteta’s squad underlined its strength in depth.

Injury crisis? What injury crisis?