• Arsenal 3 @ Club Brugge 0

—

A sublime game and phenomenal performance by the entire team led to an easy-peasy, lemon squeezy win. Club Brugge put up a worthy effort, especially in the first half, but the Gunners, even missing a number of key players, proved to be the far superior team.

The Starting lineup saw:

• Raya in goal
• Ben White at Right Back
• Christian Norgaard at Center Back
  • He’s a natural midfielder
• Hincapie at left Center Back
• Lewis-Skelly at Left Back
• Zubimendi in his natural defensive mid role
• Merino at left Center-Mid
• Odegaard Captaining from the Attacking Mid field position
• Noni Madueke on the right
• Martinelli on the left
• Gyokeres up top

Not the best lineup we can field that’s for certain, but it’s still a decent looking bunch. Key players missing from the bench were Declan Rice (Illness), Saliba, Gabriel, Mosquera, Havertz, Timber, Trossard, and Dowman who all have picked up injuries. Some are simple knocks and some will miss significant time.

Thankfully, the Gunners have a squad deep as the Mariana Trench. Let’s dive into the game.

• 25th Minute GOAL!

Madueke with a strong, straight from the dog pound kind of goal. The winger held the ball up at midfield and was blanketed by two defenders. He took both of them on and finessed passed the first with a bit of streetball skill and out and out powered past the second. He then burst 25 yards towards the goal leaving both defenders in his wake, situated the ball onto his left foot and powered a 22 yard strike into the top corner for a World Class level goal.

The screaming shot split the defenders and just grazed the underside of the crossbar giving the Keeper no chance to save it. A truly thrilling goal and an outstanding individual effort by Madueke who was starting in place of Saka.

Noni has proven to be quite the clever player that has speed, power, and a finishing touch. This one play exemplified all of his best qualities. The shimmy, looky-loo at midfield to get past the first midfielder was something you might see on the streets of London during a pickup game, but he did it at the highest level and on the biggest stage to make it 1-0 Arsenal.

• 47th Minute GOAL!

Madueke goal number two on the day only this one was slightly tamer than the first as it was an easy tap in header at the back post. Zubimendi delivered a beautiful cross towards the back post where Madueke stood completely unmarked as both defenders collapsed on Gyokeres and allowed the right winger to nod it home with ease. The Keeper stood zero chance in saving it. 2-0 Arsenal

–It was at this point that the Club Brugge fans began to voice their displeasure with the referee’s decisions. Several times, the home fans had felt wronged by the referee’s lack of a whistle on 50/50 challenges at midfield. The ref was calling the obvious foul calls but was having none of the flailing and falling to try to earn a foul just because the other player took the ball.

With Arsenal being the stronger and larger side, this style of refereeing benefited them over the Belgian club. The nearly 30,000 fans booed and whistled each time a call went against them or when the ref signaled to ‘play-on’ instead of calling a cheap foul. I understood their grief since those fouls are usually given in this day in age of football, but I’d rather watch a game that flows and allows the stronger team to win. Cheap foul calls even the playing field in a way that CAN limit the superior team just for being bigger and stronger. This ref was not fooled, and it made for quite the open game.

That said, the Club Brugge faithful rained down a chorus of boos, whistles, and jeers towards the ref each time they disagreed with a call/ no call, which turned out to be quite often.

• 56th Minute GOAL!

Martinelli made it 3-0 and silenced the home crowd off a brilliant curling shot from the top left of the 18-yard box. He dribbled himself free and past his defender to create just enough space to release his shot as he fell forward from momentum. The brilliant curling shot nestled into the top right corner. Another goal that was impossible to save for any Goalkeeper. 3-0. Game done.

–Five Goals in Five Champions League Matches for Martinelli

–The Gunners are guaranteed a top 8 position in the group stage and will avoid the elimination round. While teams ranked 9 thru 24 whittle themselves down to eight, Arsenal and seven other teams will enjoy two nights off to await their next challenge.

They have put forth strong performances so far in this competition, again, even when they have been without some key players, the depth has been there to pick up the slack.

-71st Minute Lineup after four subs:

• GK Raya
• RB White
• CB Norgaard
• CB Calafiori
• Lewis-Skelly
• CM Zubimendi
• CM Merino
• CM Nwaneri
• RW Saka
• ST Gabby Jesus (Jay-Zeus)
• LW Martinelli

You could certainly close a game with far worse. We Gooners know about that all too well. The defensive unit was the question coming into this game, and they held up to the constant pressure by Brugge who took it straight at the weakened defense the entire game. It certainly helped that the attack’s efficiency eased the role and pressure to keep a clean sheet. Notably, Norgaard did quite well at Center Back for what this game required.

–Sixteen-year-old, Miley Salmon made his Arsenal debut in the 82nd minute when he subbed on for Ben White. He’s a natural Right Back that has the physical makeup of one that can certainly grow into this team at some point. Only up Miley!

–The final whistle blew, and the Gunners officially won 3-0.

Arsenal Notes:

• This makes six wins in six Champions League games
• 1 Goal conceded, 17 goals scored
• 12 Clean Sheets in the past 17 Champions League games

Arsenal is playing strong in this competition so far. We’ll be back after the New Year for more action from this tournament.

Until then, COME ON YOU GUNNERS!

Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’

Whit W.