Noni Madueke Scores Big As Arsenal Rout Club Brugge

 

Arsenal maintained their winning form in the UEFA Champions League with a 3-0 win against Club Brugge at Emirates Stadium, during which Noni Madueke scored a brace. 

Already two points adrift of the top 24 pre-round, Club Brugge’s chances of reaching successive UCL knockout phases are diminishing with a five-match winless run in the UCL, during which they have drawn 1 and lost four.

Certainly, with this performance, it will harm their hopes of advancing, and also played a part in former boss Nicky Hayen’s sacking before this clash, but the Belgian side will be quick to point out that all three of those defeats came on the road. 

Noni Madueke broke the deadlock, dribbling past two opponents before blasting a 20-yard shot into the top corner in the 25th minute. He doubled the lead in just two minutes into the second half, nodding Martin Zubimendi's cross into the empty net from close range. 

Gabriel Martinelli put the game to bed with the third goal. The striker dribbled past a few defenders and curled a right-footed shot from the edge of the box into the far left of the net. 

The victory restored Arsenal to winning ways after losing 2-1 to Aston Villa last weekend. They remained unbeaten in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, topping the table with 18 points. 

Overview

Arsenal kept the starting lineup moderate. Attackers like Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Jese, and Bukayo Saka were also left out. Nevertheless, the lineup was formidable to handle Brugge with pacy players like Martinelli and Madueke on the wings.

Brugge grew stronger after Madueke's opening goal, with its attackers, Forbs, Tzolis, and Stankovic, making goal attempts, and Stankovic's shot almost forced a rebound, but Raya responded quickly. It was obvious that Arsenal could not take them for granted.

 There was no way Brugge could have restored level terms in the second half while trailing by three goals as Mikel Arteta bolstered the frontline with Gabriel Jesus and Saka. It was a well-deserved victory for the Gunners.