Arsenal’s defence is beginning to feel like a weekly puzzle, with Mikel Arteta forced to drop another unexpected name into the back line every match.
This time, that responsibility fell to Christian Nørgaard — and despite the unusual selection, the Gunners barely broke stride as they swept aside Club Brugge with a convincing 3–0 win.
Madueke Sparks Arsenal Into Life
Noni Madueke lit up the evening with the kind of solo moment that makes a European night memorable.
First, he bulldozed past one defender, danced through a few more, and smashed a long-range shot that clipped the underside of the bar before hitting the net.
Barely two minutes after the break, he struck again — this time heading in a superb cross from Martin Zubimendi.
Martinelli Makes Arsenal History
The victory was rounded off with another special moment, as Gabriel Martinelli secured his place in Arsenal history.
His tidy finish made him the first Arsenal player ever to score in five straight Champions League matches.
With their sixth win out of six in the group stage, Arsenal remain the only unbeaten team in the competition — and practically have their spot in the top eight locked up.
That means a straight pass into the last-16, a huge boost given the club’s defensive injury crisis.
A Defence Held Together By Tape And Determination
The injury count is becoming increasingly alarming.
Ahead of kick-off, Arsenal’s list of absentees stood at six — not even including Declan Rice, who missed out due to illness.
By matchday morning, Jurrien Timber had also dropped out after taking a knock, despite travelling with the squad.
Riccardo Calafiori wasn’t fully fit either, but was patched up enough to make the bench “just in case.”
That left Nørgaard starting at centre-back for the first time since May 2021.
Remarkably, he settled right in. Calm on the ball, tidy in possession, and unafraid of a challenge, the Dane slotted into the role with quiet authority.
He especially stepped up when Myles Lewis-Skelly was caught out of position — moments that could have cost Arsenal without Nørgaard’s composure.
Match Ratings From Brugge
Club Brugge 0–3 Arsenal
Goals: Madueke 25, 47; Martinelli 56
Arsenal:
Raya 6.5; White 6.5 (Salmon 83), Nørgaard 6.5, Hincapié 6.5 (Calafiori 63), Lewis-Skelly 5.5; Ødegaard 6 (Nwaneri 72, 6), Zubimendi 6.5, Merino 6.5; Madueke 8 (Saka 71, 6.5), Gyokeres 5.5 (Jesus 62, 6.5), Martinelli 7.
Club Brugge:
Van den Heuvel 5.5; Siquet 6, Ordonez 5.5, Mechele 6, Seys 6; Stankovic 6.5, Onyedika 6; Forbs 6, Vanaken 6, Tzolis 6.5; Tresoldi 5.5.
Martinelli’s Revival And What Nwaneri Can Learn
Martinelli’s transformation this season has been one of Arsenal’s most uplifting stories.
Just a few months ago, his future was being questioned.
He’d slipped behind Noni Madueke and Leandro Trossard in the pecking order, and he didn’t always look decisive when he had the ball.
But in Europe, he has rediscovered his spark — driving forward, taking risks, and refusing to settle for the safe pass.
His renewed energy has forced Arteta to rethink his attacking plans.
It’s a blueprint that young Ethan Nwaneri could certainly benefit from.
The teenager enjoyed a breakout year last season, earning starts in the Premier League and Champions League, and shining in the Carabao Cup.
Yet now, despite Arteta making five changes from the loss to Aston Villa, Nwaneri still struggled to get a starting spot.
He’s only 18. He has time. But Martinelli’s resurgence shows exactly how quickly fortunes can shift with persistence and bold performances.
Gabriel Jesus Returns After 332 Days
Perhaps the most uplifting moment of the night came in the 62nd minute: Gabriel Jesus stepping back onto the pitch after 332 days out with an ACL injury.
He played like a man desperate to make up for lost time.
In just over half an hour, he had more touches than Viktor Gyökeres — and even rattled the crossbar.
His clever movement and sharp passing suggested a player already close to his best.
Arteta was visibly thrilled afterwards.
“He brings something different,” the manager said.
“It’s been a long, difficult journey for him, but he looked fantastic.
If he keeps this level, he has a massive role to play.”
A Big Win — And Even Bigger Relief
With injuries mounting and pressure building, this was the kind of night Arsenal desperately needed: convincing, composed, and full of encouraging individual performances.
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