Noni Madueke was the standout player as Arsenal secured a 3-0 victory over Club Brugge, maintaining their perfect record in the UEFA Champions League and virtually sealing their berth in the knockout stage.
Manager Mikel Arteta opted for a revamped lineup, making five changes from the team that suffered a defeat to Aston Villa over the weekend. Madueke wasted no time making his mark, scoring the opener with a stunning 20-yard strike that deflected in off the crossbar.
Although Club Brugge posed a threat to Arsenal’s restructured defense right before halftime, goalkeeper David Raya was pivotal, delivering crucial saves against Christos Tzolis and Aleksandar Stankovic to preserve Arsenal’s lead.
Madueke added a second just two minutes after the restart, heading home from a superb cross delivered by Martin Zubimendi. Gabriel Martinelli later sealed the game for Arsenal with an exquisite shot curling into the net in the 56th minute.
Further lifting the spirits of the Gunners, Gabriel Jesus made his long-awaited return to action after 342 days on the sidelines due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The Brazilian nearly capped off his comeback with a goal, but his shot from distance struck the crossbar.
With this decisive victory, Arsenal climbs to 18 points in the group stage, well above the threshold needed for a top-eight finish last season. This positions them favorably to avoid the play-offs in February and allows them to focus on preparing for the round of 16 in the Champions League, marking a significant stride in their campaign.
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