Madueke Brace Fires Arsenal Past Club Brugge to Keep Perfect Champions League Record Intact
Noni Madueke struck twice as Arsenal swept aside Club Brugge to preserve their perfect Champions League record and move to the brink of the knockout stages.
Mikel Arteta shuffled his side with five changes after the defeat to Aston Villa, and one of those introductions paid off immediately. Madueke broke the deadlock with a brilliant solo effort, holding off a defender before unleashing a powerful 20-yard strike that cannoned in off the crossbar.
Club Brugge threatened briefly before half-time, but David Raya produced sharp saves to deny Christos Tzolis and Aleksandar Stankovic, ensuring Arsenal went into the break ahead.
Madueke doubled his tally just two minutes into the second half, heading in a superb delivery from Martin Zubimendi. Moments later, Gabriel Martinelli curled home a sensational third to put the game well out of reach.
Arsenal also enjoyed several encouraging milestones. Gabriel Jesus made his first appearance in 342 days after recovering from an ACL injury, while 16-year-old Marli Salmon was handed his senior debut. Jesus nearly marked his return with a goal, but his late strike clipped the bar.
The victory lifts Arsenal to 18 points — already surpassing last season’s threshold for a top-eight finish — making a February play-off highly unlikely and positioning them well for the last 16.
Supporters had been urging Arteta to rotate amid a heavy injury list and congested schedule, and he responded by refreshing the lineup. Christian Norgaard partnered Piero Hincapié at centre-back, becoming Arsenal’s seventh different pairing this season. The performance occasionally lacked fluency, but their strong league position and group dominance meant it mattered little.
Arsenal tightened their grip after the break with Madueke and Martinelli’s goals, executing a calm, professional display that extended their fine European form. The comfortable second half allowed Jesus to return and impress in his 30 minutes on the pitch — showing more impact than Viktor Gyökeres, who struggled throughout.
With the squad stretched in recent weeks, this fixture — along with the upcoming match against Wolves — offers Arteta a chance to manage minutes ahead of the demanding festive schedule.
What’s next?
Arsenal host Wolves on Saturday in the Premier League (20:00 GMT)