There have been some difficult days in the first few months of Noni Madueke’s Arsenal career. It cannot have been easy, for example, to learn that thousands of supporters had launched a petition against his move from Chelsea. Nor can it have helped when he suffered a knee injury in September that ruled him out for two months.
There have been some difficult days in the first few months of Noni Madueke’s Arsenal career. It cannot have been easy, for example, to learn that thousands of supporters had launched a petition against his move from Chelsea. Nor can it have helped when he suffered a knee injury in September that ruled him out for two months.
All of that angst and frustration, however, will feel worth it after this statement Champions League performance from the Arsenal winger. Madueke first struck surely the finest goal of his career, and then scored his most straightforward goal a few minutes later, as he led his team to another smooth victory in Europe.
It's two goals for Noni Madueke ✌️
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 10, 2025
An unmarked Madueke heads it in at the back post to double Arsenal's lead at the start of the second half @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/JjrWJhTGEW
How many of the 5,000 fans who signed that petition in the summer would admit to it now? It was an embarrassing act at the time and it looks remarkably stupid now, with Madueke impressing almost every time he steps on the field. The 23-year-old has scored three goals in his last two Champions League games, as Arsenal cruise towards the knockout stages. After six matches, they are the only team in the competition with a perfect record.
It will be no surprise if Madueke’s first goal against Club Brugge here ends up being voted as Arsenal’s goal of the season. It might even be the Champions League goal of the season, such was its class. The run, and then the long-range shot, represented the most thrilling demonstration of Madueke’s qualities as a winger.
“An unbelievable goal,” Mikel Arteta said. “When you talk about individual quality and individual action and magic moments, that’s it. A player that is able to pick the ball that far [away from goal], dribble past people and finish with the quality and the power that he’s done.”
For Arsenal and England, Madueke’s competition with Bukayo Saka can only be good news. The two close friends are locked in an increasingly fierce battle for a starting position on the right wing. Saka remains the man in possession of the shirt for the biggest games, but tonight proved that Madueke is up for the fight. The pressure on Saka is growing, which is just how Arteta wants it. That, after all, is why Arsenal paid £50m to sign Madueke.
Noni Madueke, take a bow!
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 10, 2025
Arsenal take the lead thanks to one of the goals of the season so far from Madueke 🚀@tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/LrjLdflgc6
If Madueke is to dethrone Saka, he needs to improve his consistency between games, and also within them. “The bare minimum I need to give to my team is threat,” he said. “Obviously trying to score and be as decisive as possible, that’s the next level I need to get to in terms of being consistently decisive for club and country. I think I can reach that level.”
Madueke’s stunning goal perhaps proved to be inspirational for his team-mates, too, as it was followed by a similarly fabulous effort from Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian became the first player in Arsenal’s history to score in five consecutive Champions League matches when he curled a glorious effort into the top corner.
It's another magical solo goal for Arsenal 🌟
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 10, 2025
This time it's Gabriel Martinelli's turn from the other wing with a beautiful finish@tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/3kCedX9yFK
The quality of those strikes, coupled with the return to action of Gabriel Jesus after almost a year out injured, made this a reassuring and pleasing night for Arteta, even if his makeshift defence appeared rather ragged at times.
Arsenal’s lack of defensive options meant a debut here, off the bench, for their latest teenage talent, 16-year-old Marli Salmon. The defender’s appearance made him only the third player to represent an English club in the Champions League at the age of 16 or younger. The other two were also Arsenal players: Jack Wilshere and Max Dowman.
The comeback of Jesus, out since January with a serious knee problem, represented an enormous stylistic contrast with fellow striker Viktor Gyokeres, who had minimal impact on the game. Jesus danced around the final third, holding up the ball, combining with his team-mates and floating across the front line. It was a reminder how he can help the entire Arsenal attack to flow, in a way that Gyokeres has not yet managed.
“To see him back with that smile, with that energy and quality is something really impressive, and we’re all delighted for him,” said Arteta of Jesus.
The result will ease concerns at Arsenal that their injury-ravaged defence could be a problem in the coming weeks, especially after Saturday’s painful loss at Aston Villa. Jurrien Timber is the latest Arsenal defender to pick up a knock (joining William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães and Cristhian Mosquera on the sidelines) which meant the repurposing of midfielder Christian Norgaard as an emergency centre-back here.
Norgaard performed well, but there were more than a few moments in which Arsenal looked unusually shaky in the first half. Perhaps caught by surprise by a Club Brugge team that changed manager on Monday, Arsenal were carved open too often by the adventurous duo of Carlos Forbs and Aleksandar Stankovic. Without David Raya’s reflexes in the Arsenal goal, it could have been a far more nervy evening.
Still, the brilliance of Madueke will be the overriding memory of the night. There were 25 minutes on the clock when he received the ball on the wing, a long way from goal, and burst past two opponents. The run was good but the shot was even better, a missile that scorched into the top corner.
Madueke’s second was far more simple, an easy back-post header, before Martinelli capped a lovely evening for Arsenal with his own long-range effort into the top corner.
Arteta on Gabriel Jesus’ return
There is a moment where you are all alone almost and you have to go through pain and uncertainty. He has gone through that a few times in his career, and it shows his mental toughness and how much he loves to play football. We are delighted to have him back.
Arteta singles out Norgaard for praise
We know how difficult the Champions League is, and to win away from home especially with that many players out, it makes it bigger.
Christian Norgaard is someone who probably prepares the best out of all of them. He is someone who makes all of us better every single day. He can play in any position, whether he plays more or less minutes his attitude is immaculate, a really good example for all of us.
Madueke: Arsenal can win both of the big trophies
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.
Madueke on his goals
The first goal was really nice, second a tap in but the first one was sweet. Delighted with the result.
I think the bare minimum I need to give to my team is threat. Obviously trying to score and be as decisive as possible, that’s the next level I need to get to in terms of being consistently decisive for club and country. I think I can reach that level.
What’s at stake
Arteta will not take any risks with players in pursuit of this target, but there are incentives to finish first in the league phase: home second legs are assured all the way to the final, and you cannot face the second-placed team until the final (which looks like being Bayern Munich).
How things stand for Arsenal
They are all but assured of a top-eight finish, and top spot is within their grasp. There are six points to play for, but Arsenal’s final game is at home to Kairat Almaty. Without taking anything for granted, we should be able to pencil them in for three points in that one. Kairat Almaty are bottom of the 36-team table with one point from seven games.
Should Arsenal win that game, the only team who can catch them is Bayern Munich. That would require Arsenal to lose at Inter, who they play next, and also finish the campaign with an inferior goal difference to Bayern.
A point at San Siro would surely do it, and that might not even be required (on the assumption Arsenal win against Kairat Almaty...)
Hale End delivering
3 - Only three players have played for an English club in the UEFA Champions League while aged 16 or younger. All three have done so for Arsenal - Jack Wilshere, Max Dowman, and Marli Salmon. DNA. pic.twitter.com/RaTSlfOZfF
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 10, 2025
FT: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
A great night’s work for Arsenal, who are now assured of an automatic place in the last-16 and they really should secure top spot from here (more on those permutations shortly).
The first half was a roller-coaster affair, with Club Brugge creating three or four good chances, but the stuffing was knocked out of them by Madueke’s header 90 seconds into the second half.
Madueke’s first, and Martinelli’s goal, were exquisite individual efforts. More pleasing for Arteta: they did the job without Timber, Saliba, Gabriel and Rice. Saka only played 20 minutes while Eze did not get on at all.
92 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
Two great saves from Van den Heuvel to deny Nwaneri, the second was particularly good to tip a shot around the post after the Arsenal attacking midfielder was teed up by Jesus.
90 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
Club Brugge win a free-kick in a dangerous position, and Calafiori is fortunate to escape a yellow card for pulling back Furo.
The free-kick is 25 yards out right of centre, but Stankovic hits the wall before a second attempt is scooped over.
Just three minutes of stoppage time to play.
87 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
Marli Salmon plays as a centre-back with the youth team, but has slotted in at right-back.
b'The state of the game has obviously helped Jesus but his hold-up play, movement and combinations with the wingers have been very impressive since he came on. Arsenal’s attack is flowing much better with him in it.
85 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
Arsenal keeping the ball with ease now, making the home team chase as the clock ticks down. There has been more control about their second-half performance.
Jesus with another chance! His team-mates want him to get his goal. But after the ball is worked from right to left, his side-foot effort is straight at the goalkeeper.
82 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
Arteta is making his final change, and it is 16-year-old defender Marli Salmon who replaces Ben White to make his senior Arsenal debut and first Champions League appearance. Salmon has been playing up the age groups with England and, were it not for Max Dowman, would be regarded as Arsenal’s outstanding academy prospect. He is also a headline writer’s dream, especially if he stays in the team to profit from Rice’s corners...
78 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
Arsenal snuff out a dangerous break moments after Martinelli was close to picking out Saka at the back post.
Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly then exchange passes in midfield, and a Jesus shot clips the top of the bar with a shot!
Almost a goal on his first appearance since January.
76 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
Rather like before half-time, Club Brugge are improving as an attacking force as the half wears on. Meijer found space behind Ben White but he dragged his shot wide of Raya’s far post.
74 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
Club Brugge produce their most dangerous moment of the second half: Forbs slips a through ball to the substitute Furo, and his driven shot from a tight angle slipped through the gloves of Raya but the rebound did not fall to a blue and black shirt. Then from a free-kick, Stankovic loops a header not far wide of the post.
72 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
Odegaard and Madueke were the players replaced by Saka and Nwaneri.
Jesus gets a sight of goal after things open up on the edge of the D, but his shot was tame.
70 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
Good positioning from Norgaard at centre-back after Club Brugge worked a crossing position wide left; the makeshift defender was there to clear at the near post.
Arteta has called for Nwaneri and Saka, so one of Arsenal’s main men is going get some minutes after all.
Tzolis tries his luck from distance, but he drags the shot wide.
68 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
Arsenal happy to break the game up with fouls now, White shown a yellow card for clamping Tzolis on the ankle with his studs. Club Brugge seeing more of the ball in the last few minutes.
66 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
Club Brugge are just starting to find their feet as an attacking force. Tzolis with a cross that skips all the way across the box, before Calafiori heads a follow-up delivery behind.
Clever corner played low to the near post, but Vanaken scuffed his shot.
64 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
It can be hard to decipher in real time: but either the heart has gone out of Club Brugge or Arsenal have tightened up out of possession with a tweak at half-time. That said, Norgaard has just been shown a yellow card for a foul to stop a break.
62 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
Arteta can now make a couple of changes: Hincapie replaced by Calafiori, and Gabriel Jesus on for Gyokeres. The Swede has not quite cashed in tonight.
Eze and Saka remain on the bench where (you would think?) they will stay. Calafiori is suspended for Saturday’s game against Wolves.
60 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 3
Arsenal continue to apply the pressure on a Club Brugge team who now look a little ragged.
Arteta had his head in his hands – Sir Bobby Robson and Ronaldo style – after that Martinelli goal.
He often talks of how games sometimes have to be won with “magic moments”, the subtext of those comments being that Arsenal do not do so enough, but they have tonight.
b'Gabriel Martinelli has become the first Arsenal player to score in five consecutive Champions League matches. This season he has been on sensational form in Europe, when there is usually more space for him to run into.
GOOOAAALL! Martinelli with another long-range strike
The Brazilian was poor on Arsenal’s left flank in the first half, but this is another great goal.
Fixes Siquet one-on-one, beats him for pace, before chopping inside and bending an arcing strike into the top corner.
Martinelli’s fifth Champions League goal of the season.
It's another magical solo goal for Arsenal 🌟
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 10, 2025
This time it's Gabriel Martinelli's turn from the other wing with a beautiful finish@tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/3kCedX9yFK
55 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 2
Madueke gets something wrong for maybe the first time tonight, with a loose pass inside for Ben White, but Arsenal recover.
Zubimendi then plays Arsenal out of tight spot with a terrific chipped pass to Madueke.
52 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 2
Martinelli curls in a cross towards Gyokeres, but the ball was a little behind the centre-forward. Getting Gyokeres a goal is one of the few things left on Arsenal’s to-do list tonight. Club Brugge passing the ball across their backline, Arsenal defending in shape.
More groans from the home crowd towards the referee after Vanaken is penalised for handball in midfield.
50 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 2
Arsenal should be in control now, but the first half suggested the Belgian side will keep swinging punches.
b'Noni Madueke has scored the most difficult and most straightforward goals of his career on the same night. He’s enjoying himself here.
GOOOAALLL! Madueke scores Arsenal’s second
Only 90 seconds into the second half, Club Brugge completely switch off after Gyokeres won Arsenal a throw.
Zubimendi popped up in a left-wing position after receiving a pass from Lewis-Skelly, and the Spaniard dinked a delightful ball to the back post.
The Club Brugge goalkeeper and defence were caught under the ball, and Madueke headed home from a yard out.
It's two goals for Noni Madueke ✌️
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 10, 2025
An unmarked Madueke heads it in at the back post to double Arsenal's lead at the start of the second half @tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/JjrWJhTGEW
The two teams are back out
No changes for Arsenal at the break. Arteta will not have to turn to any of his bigger hitters too early.
Sam’s half-time verdict from Bruges
b'Arsenal had a lot of problems in the second half of that first half, but I don’t think it was because of their unfamiliar defence. It was more linked to their inability to build any momentum with the ball higher up the pitch. Arsenal’s looseness in possession turned this into a transitional sort of match, and that suits Club Brugge far more than them.
HT: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 1
Arsenal lead thanks to Noni Madueke’s sensational goal in the 25th minute, and they deserved that lead after an authoritative start to the game.
Club Brugge produced a stirring response though, with David Raya facing four shots on target and Forbs causing havoc down the Arsenal left.
Arteta will want Arsenal to restore some control, the game has become too see-saw.
45 minutes+2: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 1
Arsenal but been run ragged for the last 15 minutes, but they went close to a second there. Madueke yet again was the man carrying the threat, after some better hold up play from Gyokeres, but the goalkeeper van den Heuvel parried his well-struck shot across goal.
45 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 1
There will be four minutes of added time to play. The home crowd are not happy after Hincapie gets touch tight shortly before Stankovic is penalised for a foul on Merino. Arsenal just trying to keep the ball for a spell.
44 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 1
Club Brugge should have equalised in this spell, again Arsenal are not strong enough at the edge of their box. Tzolis did not set his shot out far enough, and Raya saved with ease.
Then Raya saves again! Arsenal caught out by a ball over then top from Vanaken, but the goalkeeper got down sharply to keep out Stankovic’s strike across goal.
41 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 1
A really rough five minutes for Arsenal, but they do now have their foot back on the ball, Odegaard restoring some control. Arteta needs to see more from Gyokeres, this has not been a convincing response to his display at Villa.
39 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 1
Club Brugge with another good piece of football, Arsenal’s centre-backs too passive leaving too much space behind the midfield. Tzolis goes for the curler into the far corner and it flies just wide of David Raya’s far post.
37 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 1
Another good opening for Forbs on Club Brugge’s right flank, with Arsenal caught a little open in transition. Hincapie shows the winger inside, and there is space for the shot, but the attempt is straight at Raya.
34 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 1
The two right-wingers are their team’s most dangerous forward so far, Forbs has Lewis-Skelly back-tracking after a good move. He plays a pass to Onyedika in the middle but Hincapie stands firm to make a block.
Then Gyokeres loses possession cheaply, and Club Brugge break through Forbs again, but his cross flicks off an Arsenal leg across the area.
Club Brugge look vulnerable at the back, but have some menace going forward.
32 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 1
Madueke once again the route Arsenal take to goal, after Raya picked out the chest of Martinelli with a clip into midfield. Corner, which Arsenal keep alive with a Martinelli shot, and Gyokeres flicks a header on which is straight at the goalkeeper Van den Heuvel.
b'The Arsenal fans in Bruges have been enjoying the Christmas markets here and they’re having a lovely time in the away end so far. Their favourite song tonight is a twist on Wham’s Last Christmas. This year, to save them from tears, they’re giving their hearts to Zubimendi.
30 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 1
A mishit shot from long range almost causes Arsenal’s defence a problem, but Norgaard stuck out a leg to divert the ball from danger. Club Brugge then win a throw, with Madueke defending against his left-back Seys.
28 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 1
Arsenal looking sharp, and now they have another corner after Martinelli’s cross is blocked. Hincapie meets it with his head, but the goalkeeper plucks it off the line. The home team are rocking.
b'The press box is surrounded by home fans here in Bruges and many of the supporters around us were on their feet in response to that Noni Madueke goal. You very rarely see that sort of reaction in the home end to an away team scoring a goal. That is an indication of the quality of the strike, I would say.
GOOOOAAALL! Madueke with a screamer
He scored against Bayern Munich a fortnight ago, and now Noni Madueke has scored Arsenal’s goal of the season so far.
The winger picks up the ball a long way from goal, puts his foot on it and slows down, which freezes a couple of Club Brugge markers before he bursts away into a central position.
From 25 yards out, Madueke lets fly with a left-footed rocket that crashes in off the underside of the bar.
Noni Madueke, take a bow!
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 10, 2025
Arsenal take the lead thanks to one of the goals of the season so far from Madueke 🚀@tntsports & @discoveryplusUKpic.twitter.com/LrjLdflgc6
23 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 0
Club Brugge trying to build play from deep inside their own half, but they are short of options right now, and the ball keeps coming back. Arsenal pretty much playing inside the home team’s half.
That is until a loose Lewis-Skelly pass in midfield, and Club Brugge break through Forbs. The move ends with a deflected shot from Tresoldi which Raya saves easily.
20 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 0
Madueke the outlet for Arsenal again down the right. Another long throw from Norgaard is cleared, but Arsenal pick up the seconds.
And then they hit the post! Snap shot from distance by Lewis-Skelly was dragged, but Hincapie was in the box to turn the ball towards goal but his effort hit the woodwork.
18 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 0
Merino with a diagonal run across midfield to give Lewis-Skelly an option from a throw in.
Decent wing play from Madueke on the right, but White’s low cross is cleared. Arsenal keep the home team penned in and the pressure on.
But it breaks down with Martinelli on the left, who has not had the best start to the game.
16 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 0
Martinelli gets a knee in the small of the back, but it was good defending from Siquet to force him back.
The home crowd feel that the decisions are going Arsenal’s way. Raya with a measured pass into midfield, and Merino gets his body in to win a foul.
Strong centre-forward play then by Tresoldi to win a foul against Hincapie who was guilty of getting too tight.
14 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 0
It looks like Madueke is having his fingers taped up, maybe a small fracture, but he should be fine to carry on. Saka was sent out to warm up, but he can sit back down on the bench.
12 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 0
Vanaken looks to be the conductor for Club Brugge, and he plays a clever reverse pass into the box but his team-mate is offside. Was a nice move from one end to the other from the Belgian team.
Noni Madueke is down and receiving some attention for what looks an arm injury. Arsenal will not want to use Saka this early.
9 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 0
Really strange moment as the referee halts play and stops White from taking an Arsenal throw-in, before letting him drop the ball and play it with his feet.
Good left-footed pass forward from Norgaard to Madueke, he slips in White on the overlap whose cross deflects behind for a corner.
Well punched by van den Heuvel.
b'Ben White has started the game aggressively, making a couple of surging runs from deep already. He combined well with Noni Madueke against Brentford last week and it will be interesting how their relationship develops over time. They are the second-choice right-sided players at the moment, behind Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka.
7 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 0
Appeals for a Club Brugge penalty, but Forbs went down too easily at the edge of the area as he was running side by side with Merino. Both teams have moved the ball well in the early stages, it has the feeling of a game that should produce goals.
6 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 0
A little bit of hesitancy from Hincapie as he was waiting for Raya to sweep up a ball in behind the Arsenal defence, and Club Brugge forward Forbs clattered into the back of him. The Arsenal defender is fine to continue.
Then Gyokeres plays a nice flick into Ben White’s path but he cannot get his shot away at the edge of the box.
4 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 0
Odegaard exerting his influence on the game early on, zipping a pass between the lines to Merino. He did not play the best pass into the box, but it rebounds for the Arsenal captain to strike from 25 yards and the deputy goalkeeper pushes the shot away.
2 minutes: Club Brugge 0 Arsenal 0
Norgaard is indeed at centre-back for Arsenal. In the early exchanges, Odegaard drops deep (behind Zubimendi) to receive the ball and he clips a ball over the top for Martinelli to chase. Arsenal win a throw, which Norgaard sends into the box. Club Brugge clear.
KICK OFF!
Arsenal get the game started.
A late change for Club Brugge
No Simon Mignolet in goal for the home team, Netherlands youth international Dani van den Heuvel starts. He might actually be the third-choice goalkeeper, because Club Brugge have another injury in that department.
Mignolet picked up an injury towards the end of the warm up.
The teams are out of the tunnel
Club Brugge have a live chance of making it through to the play-off in February, so this is a big game for them and a chance to impress their new head coach. All eyes on how Arsenal’s makeshift back four shapes up. Some hairy moments are inevitable, you would think.
Our man in position
📍Club Brugge v Arsenal pic.twitter.com/oCwuy5eZw6
— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) December 10, 2025
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet starts
Things did not work out for him at Anfield, but if memory serves he was quite useful at saving penalties. One to watch should Arsenal be awarded one tonight (you never have to wait long for a penalty with the Uefa version of VAR).
One small concern for Arsenal fans
There were calls for Martin Zubimendi, who has been a near ever-present, to be given a rest but he starts in midfield once again. With Norgaard deployed at the back and Rice sick, I’m not sure Arteta had much choice.
Arsenal have the good fortune to have Wolves at home on Saturday though, followed by a free week. If Rice has recovered by the weekend, I suspect that will be the day to give Zubimendi a watching brief.
Club Brugge not exactly flying
They currently sit third in the Belgian Pro League, and there expected goal difference suggests that is a fair reflection of performances. Their top goalscorer is Christos Tzolis, the Greek forward once of Norwich City.
They drew 3-3 with Barcelona in Belgium this season though, and caused Aston Villa plenty of problems in the home leg of last season’s last-16 tie. Club Brugge lost 3-1, but Villa’s second and third goals came late and they managed just seven shots to the Belgian team’s 11.
Arsenal are strong favourites, but this is certainly not uncharted territory for the hosts and they have a rag-tag back four to attack.
Arteta explains Timber and Calafiori not starting
“They both had issues from the weekend, both really bad kicks. For Jurrien it was too early and for Ricci we have to manage to see if he can do some minutes. [tonight]”
How things stand for Arsenal
Club Brugge team and subs
Club Brugge starting XI: Mignolet, Siquet, Ordonez, Mechele, Seys, Stankovic, Nwadike, Forbs, Vanaken, Tzolis, Tresoldi
Subs: van den Heuvel, de Corte, Romero, Vetlesen, Sandra, Meijer, Nilsson, Spileers, Sabbe, Diakhon, Campbell, Furo
Timber present but will not be involved
b'The major team news for Arsenal is that Christian Norgaard is starting at centre-back tonight. The Danish international is a central midfielder by trade, although he did play in defence a few times for Brentford.
Norgaard’s presence in the defence is further evidence of the injury issues that Arsenal are dealing with at the moment. William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Cristhian Mosquera are all out, while Jurrien Timber is not even in the squad tonight (although he is in Belgium).
One more injury at the back and Arsenal could find themselves in serious trouble ahead of the weekend, especially because Riccardo Calafiori is suspended for Saturday’s meeting with Wolves.
Gyokeres must improve on Villa showing
b'This is another big night for Viktor Gyokeres, who has seemingly lost his place to Mikel Merino after suffering an injury against Burnley in early November. Gyokeres has been on the bench in the last three Arsenal games, but starts tonight as Merino moves back into midfield.
Gyokeres has struck six goals in 17 appearances in all competitions this season, which is… not bad, although perhaps a little underwhelming given the expectations when he joined. More concerning than his goal record, perhaps, is that his all-round game has been quite inconsistent. Within the Arsenal fanbase, some of the early-season giddiness about Gyokeres has faded away. Tonight is a chance for him to rebuild the hype.
Several Arsenal changes from the defeat at Villa
Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze come out.
Christian Norgaard, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli come in.
Some of those changes are enforced – Rice is ill and Timber left out of the squad entirely for reasons unknown – but the front three has been freshened up by design.
Arsenal have a couple of young defenders on the bench: Marli Salmon and Josh Nichols.
Arsenal team news: Norgaard starts in defence
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 10, 2025
🧱 Norgaard at the back
⚡️ Martinelli down the wing
😤 Gyokeres up top
Let's keep our Champions League momentum going ✊
Arteta not fretting about Dowman’s injury
b'If you’ll forgive the brief detour away from tonight’s game, a quick word on the unhappy news for Arsenal that teenage sensation Max Dowman has suffered an ankle injury that could rule him out for around two months.
Mikel Arteta was asked about the situation on Tuesday night and one part of his answer was especially interesting: Arteta effectively said that such an injury (Dowman was hurt as a result of a tackle) was always going to happen, given the winger’s style of play.
What did Arteta mean by that? My reading of those comments was that they were a reference to Dowman’s fabulous dribbling ability, which means he often invites lunging challenges from opposition defenders. In other words, Dowman’s ability on the ball makes him far more likely to be clattered around the legs than other players.
Arsenal supporters will no doubt be worried that repeated injuries of this sort could have a long-term impact on Dowman’s development (ankle injuries certainly affected the career of Jack Wilshere, another super-talented Arsenal academy graduate), but there was no sense of concern from Arteta on Tuesday.
The Arsenal manager actually seemed quite positive about Dowman’s situation, making the point that this enforced absence gives him a chance to work on his body, education and other areas of the game.
Club Brugge have a new head coach in charge
The Belgian champions sacked head coach Nicky Hayen on Monday and replaced him Ivan Leko, who joins from KAA Gent. They also have a lengthy injury list, though the same is true of Arsenal tonight.
Asked about the unexpected change in coach, Arteta said: “Obviously, you look at all the games and analyse the manager and their identity, and obviously, the last performance they had was in the Champions League and the domestic competition. In the afternoon, we got the news that they have a new manager. So you have to adapt, it’s not the first time that we are facing this situation.”
Gabriel Jesus returns but bad news for Max Dowman
b'Arsenal fear Max Dowman could miss two months of action after he was injured playing against Manchester United in a friendly.
Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, said the ankle injury is “part of the journey” for the highly rated playmaker as he challenged the youngster to make the most of his enforced absence from competitive action.
The 15-year-old became the latest Arsenal player to pick up an injury after hurting his ankle playing for the club’s youth team against United at St George’s Park last Saturday.
Arteta said an injury to Dowman was sadly always inevitable, given the winger’s quality and his dribbling style. Dowman has been replaced in Arsenal’s Champions League squad by Gabriel Jesus, who is ready to make his return from a long-term anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
“It is part of the journey,” said Arteta. “At some point when you play at this level, when you play in the position that he plays, when you play in the manner that he plays, it was going to happen and it happened.
“It’s not ideal [but] it could have been worse. [He can] learn from that and now use this time to continue to improve in his education, in everything that is related to professional football: his habits, the way he needs to develop his physicality as well to be with us, the understanding of the game.
“Sometimes when you are away from the game you say: ‘I can’t really live without it and how important it is’, so [he can] use those moments as well to get a reflection of where you are and give you a better force to go forward.”
The return of Jesus marks a welcome boost for Arsenal before tonight’s Champions League match against Club Brugge. Arteta’s team is in a strong position in the Champions League, having won all five matches so far, and are looking to bounce back from Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Aston Villa.
Jesus has not played for Arsenal’s first team since January, when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in an FA Cup match against Manchester United.
“I love him,” said Gabriel Martinelli of Jesus, his fellow Brazilian. “I always say he is one of the best strikers in the world, on the pitch and outside the pitch, too. He loves to link up and I hope he has some minutes in the next game to show his talent again.
“He is so experienced, he has played so many games for Manchester City, for us, and for the national team. He is still young and I tell him that. It is really good to have him back.”
Category: General Sports
