Arsenal clinched a spot in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 with a comfortable 3-0 win over Club Brugge on Wednesday, extending their flawless group stage record to six victories from six matches.
Noni Madueke’s brace and a clinical finish from Gabriel Martinelli secured the points at Jan Breydel Stadium, propelling the Gunners to the top of their section and guaranteeing a direct path to March’s last-16 ties, bypassing February’s playoff round.
The Belgian hosts, languishing on four points, now teeter on the brink of an early exit under new coach Ivan Leko, who returned for a second stint just days after Nicky Hayen’s shock dismissal.
Arsenal struck first in the 25th minute when Madueke, surging from midfield, rifled a stunning long-range shot into the top corner after initiating the move himself on the halfway line.b06c1c Club Brugge pushed for parity before halftime, with Aleksandar Stankovic curling narrowly wide in the 39th minute and Arsenal keeper David Raya denying efforts from Christos Tzolis and Stankovic.
The second half opened with Madueke doubling his tally two minutes after the restart, rising unmarked to head in Martin Zubimendi’s pinpoint cross at the far post as Brugge’s defense faltered.c600b0 Martinelli then sealed the result in the 56th minute, cutting inside from the left before unleashing a fierce right-footed drive into the net — his fifth goal in five Champions League outings this term, having sat out one fixture.
“We played against a very good team. Against the best in the world. Still, we played our match. You have to be able to score quickly against teams like that. Well, we’re a young team and we’re learning from this,” Brugge midfielder Stankovic reflected post-match.076b5e
Madueke, buzzing with confidence, savored his standout display: “The first goal was really nice, second a tap-in but the first one was sweet.”454596 The English winger added broader ambitions for Mikel Arteta’s side: “We’re fighting on all fronts. I feel like we can win this competition and win the league, that has to be the aim. We’re in a good place at the moment.”172bee
Manager Arteta rang the changes with five alterations to the lineup following a domestic setback against Aston Villa at the weekend, yet the rotated squad dominated proceedings. Substitute Gabriel Jesus, back after a prolonged knee injury absence, nearly marked his 30-minute cameo with a goal, striking the crossbar in the 79th minute.
In a nod to youth development, 16-year-old Marli Salmon made his senior bow at right-back in the closing stages, becoming Arsenal’s fourth-youngest debutant in history.58ce09
