Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli both scored sensational strikes as we stormed to victory in Belgium – making it six wins out of six in the Champions League.

Madueke started the scoring with a storming run and rasping finish in the first half, before heading our second just after the interval.

Martinelli got in on the act with a great goal of his own, picking out the top corner from 20 yards out. 

The comprehensive win takes us to the brink of automatic qualification to the Round of 16, with two games remaining. 

New-look lineup

Mikel Arteta changed half of his outfield players for our first ever meeting with Club Brugge, with some of those alterations enforced. With Jurrien Timber joining the number of unavailable defenders, Christian Norgaard moved back from his normal position in midfield to partner Piero Hincapie in the centre of defence.

We set the pace in the opening exchanges. Martin Odegaard was seeing plenty of the ball, and drew a flying save from Tristan van den Heuvel inside three minutes. 

Hincapie struck the base of the post on 20 minutes. Myles Lewis-Skelly tried a speculative shot from the edge of the area which was heading wide, until the Ecuadorian stuck out a foot to divert it towards goal. The keeper was beaten, but it hit the post and rebounded to safety.

Moments later Viktor Gyokeres headed wide at the near post as we started to pile on the pressure.

Madueke Magic

Then a moment of absolute brilliance from Madueke. He picked up possession just inside the Brugge half and instantly turned on the afterburners. He shrugged off one, then two challenges to cut infield within shooting distance. He then let fly from 25 yards with a left-footed stinger into the top corner. 

It made it back-to-back goals in the Champions League for the England winger, after scoring against Bayern Munich last month. 

Hincapie saw his header from close range cleared off the line before Gyokeres had a header saved.

Brugge build back

Despite winning only one of their last seven games in all competitions, the hosts are strong at home in Europe, with just one defeat from their last seven Champions League matches at the Jan Breydel Stadium. 

This was Ivan Lenko’s first game back in charge of the club after Nicky Hayen was surprisingly sacked on Monday. And his side began to build some pressure of their own towards the end of the half. 

Carlos Forbs forced David Raya into a save low down after a run down the right, then Aleksandar Stankovic was just off target when given space outside the area to measure his shot.

Christos Tzolis and Stankovic again worked Raya before the half-time whistle blew – the second stop from Raya especially was a fine save, low as the Croatian bore down on goal.

Madueke doubles up

We ended the first-half on top though, as Madueke brought another save from van den Heuvel in the area.

And within two minutes of the restart the man of the moment netted again. This one was an altogether simpler finish, and owed a lot to the assist from Martin Zubimendi. The Spaniard got to the byline and whipped in a devilish cross beyond the keeper to Madueke who could head into empty net from about a yard out at the far post.

Gabi’s record 

Martinelli was not to be outdone though by his fellow winger. He created a slice of Arsenal history by becoming our first player to ever score in five consecutive Champions League games – and he did it in breathtaking style. 

Receiving the ball on the left touchline, he cut inside, weaved past a defender before unleashing a right footed rocket from the edge of the area perfectly into the far top corner. 

There was more reason for the vocal travelling supporters to cheer just after the hour, when Gabriel Jesus came on for his first taste of competitive action for 332 days, following an ACL injury sustained in January. 

We were well on top by now, though Raya had his palms stung by a Kaye Furo shot at the near post before Stankovic shot off target. Bjorn Meijer dragged a shot just wide as the hosts kept pressing.

Marli makes his mark

Jesus almost marked his comeback with a goal – he smashed the bar after being found by Ethan Nwaneri on the run. Shortly afterwards he shot at the keeper after being set up by Zubimendi.

In between those two late chances academy defender Marli Salmon came on to make his Arsenal first team debut. At the age of just 16 years and 103 days, he’s the fourth youngest player ever to represent us (after Max Dowman, Ethan Nwaneri and Jack Porter).

The win keeps us three points clear at the top of the table, and a top eight finish all but assured with two games remaining.

What’s next

We’re back in Premier League action this weekend, at home to Wolves on Saturday night. We have just two Champions League league phase matches left – away to Inter Milan and at home to Kairat Almaty – both in late January. 

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