STATEMENT WIN: NONI MADUEKE SILENCES CRITICS WITH DOUBLE AS ARSENAL MAKES HISTORY
Noni Madueke, facing summer criticism, scored a brilliant double as Arsenal secured a historic sixth straight UCL win. Martinelli also set a major club record.
Arsenal and Gabriel Martinelli had a night to remember, but Noni Madueke might have been the happiest. After facing some online backlash for moving from Chelsea to Arsenal in the summer, Madueke, making a rare start on the right while Bukayo Saka rested, scored a super goal and then another in the second half, helping Arsenal win comfortably.
Arsenal is now only the fifth English squad to win their first six Champions League or European Cup games. They are close to making it to the last 16; they just need one more point.
Martinelli also had a great moment. His amazing curling shot means he's the first Arsenal player to score in five straight Champions League matches. Plus, Gabriel Jesus played for the first time in almost a year after recovering from a knee injury, so it was mostly the kind of result manager Mikel Arteta wanted after their loss to Aston Villa.
Without Declan Rice, who was sick, Arteta said he would change the starting lineup after the Villa loss. But there was further news before the game: Jurriën Timber was still hurt from the Villa match. This meant Christian Nørgaard and Piero Hincapié were the seventh different centre-back pairing for Arsenal this season. Riccardo Calafiori was only well enough to be on the bench, joining 16-year-old Marli Salmon, showing how thin Arsenal's squad is right now.
Considering the injuries, it wasn't the best time to play Club Brugge, who wanted to do well for their new coach, Ivan Leko, after Nicky Hayen was let go on Monday. Three losses in the last four games were the end for Hayen, who won the Belgian title last season. Leko, who also won the title in his first time as coach in 2018, now has the job of turning things around.
Even though Brugge played well in a 3-3 game against Barcelona last month, their defence has been shaky, and Arsenal showed they meant business early. Martin Ødegaard forced Dani van den Heuvel to make a save after just six minutes. Carlos Forbs, who used to play for Wolves, was a problem for Myles Lewis-Skelly, but Lewis-Skelly managed to get forward and saw his shot go off Hincapié and hit the post. Then, Madueke got the ball in Brugge's half and made a great move past his defender. He got past two more defenders and then fired an unstoppable shot that went in off the crossbar.
That goal could have won any game, but Brugge was still dangerous, especially with Forbs. Raya saved a shot from Forbs, and Aleksandar Stankovic almost scored from far away. Brugge was getting more confident. Christos Tzolis found some space in the box just before halftime, but Raya saw what he was planning. Then, Raya made another save to stop Stankovic.
Van den Heuvel had stopped Madueke from scoring again at the end of the first half, but Madueke got his second goal soon after halftime. Martín Zubimendi sent in a great cross from the left, and Madueke was there to knock it in. Not long after, Martinelli made his own history, cutting in from the left and scoring an amazing curling shot to make it 3-0.
Jesus almost scored in his return, but his shot hit the crossbar. Salmon, who played well with Max Dowman for Arsenal's Under-18s last season, also played his first Champions League game for the final few minutes and looked good as Arsenal moved closer to winning a trophy.
DAVID RAYA CONFIRMS BAYERN MUNICH MOVE NEARLY HAPPENED BEFORE ARSENAL BID INTERVENED
Jamie Carragher labels David Raya one of the world's best as Arsenal sit nine points clear in the 2026 title race.
Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya recently opened up about how close he came to joining Bayern Munich before ultimately signing with the Gunners. The Spain international has blossomed into one of Europe’s top goalkeepers under Mikel Arteta's guidance, but his path almost led him to the Bundesliga giants instead.
Raya’s story
Initially, Arsenal brought Raya on loan for the 2023/24 season, and by July 2024, they made the move permanent for around £27 million. Despite the apparent smoothness of that transfer, Raya revealed that Bayern Munich had been seriously interested in him. As Fabrizio Romano reported, Raya said, “I was very, very close to joining another club, but luckily that didn’t happen, and in the end Arsenal made a bid, and I came here. Which club? It was Bayern Munich.”
Arteta’s praise
Arteta hasn’t held back when praising Raya’s performances. After their recent Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen, he described Raya as “absolutely amazing". Highlighting the keeper’s crucial saves in consecutive matches, Arteta emphasised how vital Raya has been. “In two games, it was a set piece last time and a header before that, and today he has an action. He makes an incredible save. That’s why he’s here. We need to value the keeper that we have because he’s absolutely amazing.”
Heinze’s impact
Raya also spoke about the influence of coach Gabriel Heinze, the ex-Manchester United defender, especially on their defensive mentality. Raya credited Heinze with instilling a fighting spirit and high intensity, which he sees as key to success in the Premier League. “He’s a guy, he’s a coach; where he wants us to fight – a lot of intensity. To win games, you have to defend very well, especially in this league. This is the toughest league in the world. You have to be very, very, very solid to be able to win games. Normally, games are won by one goal. So, it’s really, really important to keep that asset from us, from everyone. Not just the back line, just every single player. So, it’s a lot of credit to him as well.”
Expert opinion
Even Jamie Carragher has praised Raya’s quality this season, calling him “a brilliant goalkeeper” and one of Arsenal’s best signings. He compared Raya favourably to other top Premier League keepers, saying, “David Raya, for me, it’s between him and Alisson in the Premier League for the best goalkeeper. He’s certainly one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and that’s why he keeps so many clean sheets.”
What’s ahead?
As it stands, Arsenal lead the Premier League by nine points over Manchester City, albeit having played one extra match. Before thinking about the title race, though, Arsenal face City in the Carabao Cup final this weekend. Arteta expressed confidence in his team’s ability to bring home the trophy: “I’m really prepared and confident that we’re going to make it happen. When it comes to the crucial moments and when it comes to the moment to attack a trophy, take it and bring it home, that’s when you need to step up and make a difference. That’s why we are all very excited because we know what is at stake, and now it’s about the next step, the next game... It’s one of the defining moments because at the end, it’s whether you win the trophy or not. We need to prove that point. That’s clear. And that has to be done on the pitch.”
HOW MIKEL ARTETA’S TACTICAL PATIENCE SECURED ARSENAL’S HISTORIC NINE POINT LEAGUE LEAD
Mikel Arteta reflects on Arsenal's defining 2-0 win over Everton, moving the Gunners ten points clear at the top.
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Mikel Arteta reflected on Arsenal’s recent 2-0 win over Everton, a result that extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points. The goals came late in the game from Viktor Gyökeres and Max Dowman, and with the tension high at the Emirates, this match might well stand out as a defining moment in the club’s journey this season.
He described the past couple of months as remarkable, highlighting the team’s presence across all competitions and their consistent approach of treating every match as decisive. Of course, performances vary; some days they’re solid, sometimes exceptional, and occasionally not at their best, but what impresses Arteta most is the team's persistent hunger to win.
The challenge against Everton was significant. Arteta pointed out their quality and coaching, noting how dangerous they were whenever they approached the box and just how tough they made it to break them down. As the game wore on, the pressure to secure the victory increased, which required the team to remain composed and mature. Arteta praised both the players and the crowd for their patience, waiting for the right moments to strike rather than forcing the issue prematurely.
At 0-0, he was visibly pushing hard for a breakthrough, stressing the importance of collective effort; the players were giving their all, and the support staff were fully engaged to back them. Viktor’s goal, in particular, stood out not just because it put the game beyond doubt but also for the way his presence and pace changed the dynamic whenever he was involved. Max Dowman’s energy was also a key factor in lifting the stadium atmosphere.
Arteta also acknowledged the contributions of other players like Gabriel Martinelli and Cristian Mosquera, especially when Jurrien Timber was unavailable. This adaptability has been a recurring theme throughout the season. The impact of the squad members stepping up when called upon underlines why the team is where it is now.
Finally, Arteta touched on the camaraderie within the dressing room; even when his decisions might not always be popular or seem fair, the players accept them with a shared goal to help the team succeed. This mindset, he believes, speaks volumes about the character of the group he’s working with.
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