Club Brugge 0-3 Arsenal: Madueke's brace and Gabi's goal seal sixth Champions League win as Gunners sweep past Bruges 

Two goals from Noni Madueke and a third from Gabi Martinelli seal Champions League victory against Bruges in Belgium 

Injury crisis? What injury crisis?

Arsenal underlined their strength in depth, as well as huge reserves of character as Mikel Arteta’s side swept aside the challenge of Bruges in Belgium on Wednesday evening.

A brace from two-goal hero Noni Madueke, the first an outstanding long-range effort, was supplemented by Gabi Martinelli’s equally excellent shot from outside the box, as the Gunners displayed their quality to post their sixth victory on the bounce in the Champions League - to leave them on the verge of automatic qualification.

The triumph also ensured the visitors from North London shrugged off their frustrating late loss at the hands of Aston Villa, despite Arteta making five changes to the side that lost 2-1 at Villa Park at the weekend.

Christian Norgaard started at centre back, alongside Piero Hincapie, while Viktor Gyokeres was named as striker. No Jurrien Timber or Declan Rice in the squad due to illness, but Riccardo Calafiori, Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze still all dropped to the bench, with the Gunners boss also opting for four academy players as substitutes.

While Arteta admitted Arsenal were in a “really dangerous circle” as their injury crisis got worse over the weekend, with the news talented teen Max Dowman will be out for several weeks with ankle ligament damage, they certainly didn’t show any fear against the Belgians. Even if, as if to underline matters still further, two goal hero Madueke broke a finger on his left hand early on during the match.

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Club Brugge started the evening down in 28th place, two points off the top 24 in the league phase, having posted a single triumph in their five matches so far.

Their domestic performance mirrored their Euro problems, with three defeats in their last four matches across all competitions, with Ivan Leko’s appointment on Monday after a run of one win in seven across all competitions.

Their loss at the weekend - dropping to third in the Jupiler Pro League, after Sint-Truidense VV came from behind to defeat the 19-time champions of Belgium and close the gap on Royale Union Saint-Gilloise at the top - saw Brugge part company with previous boss Nicky Hayen.

Yet the Belgium side deserved not be underestimated given they drew 3-3 with La Liga giants Barcelona last month and had a passionate home support cheering them on throughout the match. Even if they started with third choice keeper Dani van den Heuvel in goal, after their former Liverpool netminder Simon Mignolet, who had been down as first choice on the teamsheet, was injured in the warm-up.

Long-term issues also ruled out Ludovit Reis and Lynnt Audoor, while Romeo Vermant was still undergoing concussion protocols.

Arsenal underlined their intent after only 120 seconds, when Gunners skipper Martin Odegaard tested Bruges keeper van den Heuvel, who was once on the books of Leeds United, with a shot from the edge of the area.

The match had barely begun in earnest when the home fans sang loudly in support of their former boss Hayen, prior to Arsenal hitting the post on 21 minutes. Myles Lewis-Skelly unleashing a low drive into a crowded box, which Hincapie appeared to touch onto the woodwork, onto van den Heuve’s right-hand side.

Two minutes later, Bruges’ No7 Nicolo Tresoldi tested Raya with a near post effort, after the home side swept forward through striker Carlos Forbs.

On 25 minutes Arsenal’s Madueke put the Gunners with a superb long-range effort, after powering at heart of the backpedaling Bruges backline, before unleashing a scorcher that flew past van den Heuvel to end up in the top corner of the goal to make it 1-0.

The travelling Arsenal support at the other end erupted in joy, enjoying themselves most heartily, massed as they were in the Bruges away end - as they had been earlier in the day when savouring the pre-Christmas atmosphere, after imbibing merrily in this wonderful medieval town’s numerous welcoming hostelries.

In fact, such was their festive cheer, they even turned Wham’s Last Christmas into a ditty praising Martin Zubimendi, singing loudly about the fact. Deservedly so, given the Spaniard’s assist for Madueke’s opener, with a second to follow in the second half.

Yet, Bruges refused to be deterred, with Forbs continuing to cause problems for Lewis-Skelly along the right flank, when driving at the left-back, before cutting the ball to Tresoldi - but the No7’s cheeky back-heeled failed to come off.

Alexsandar Stankovic nearly levelled six minutes before the interval, but his superb curling effort flew narrowly the wrong side of Raya’s left-hand post.

Bruges continued to pressure the Gunners defence when pushing for an equaliser, with Raya saving two efforts in a matter of moments before the break.

Firstly from Christos Tzolis curling effort on 42 minutes, prior to denying the lively Stankovic, after Hans Vanaken’s ball over the top, as Arsenal went into the break a somewhat fortuitous 1-0 ahead.

However, the Gunners showed their quality at the start of the second half, as Madueke doubled the visitors lead. Arsenal’s second goal coming from the former Chelsea attacker’s close range header, after getting on the end of Zubimendi’s cross - as the former Real Sociedad midfielder posted his second assist of a profitable evening.

The Gunners were rampant by now, with Martinelli making it 3-0 with a sublime long range effort on 56 minutes.

With 15 minutes remaining, substitute Bjorn Meijer went close with a low effort which flew the wrong side of Raya’s woodwork.