Three Things We Learned after Arsenal's Champions League victory over Club Brugge

Noni Madueke grabbed a brace with Gabi Martinell also striking as Arsenal kept up their perfect start in the Champions League

Here are three things that stood out for me, writes Ian Mills, after Madueke silences critics, while Gabriel Jesus looked lively on his long-awaited return to Gunners action, as a much-changed starting line-up claimed a sixth straight Champions League win in Belgium.

1 - Noni nails it:

– any lingering doubts over the summer signing of Noni Madueke have now been firmly and rightly extinguished as he turned in a man of the match display here.

He scored a tremendous opening goal as he dispatched a left foot rocket into the top corner via the underside of the crossbar.

He was then denied a second when his fiercely struck low shot was well saved by Dany van den Heuvel deputising in the Club Brugge goals after Simon Mignolet was injured in the warm up.

Just 82 seconds into the second half, he did score again though as he nodded home Martin Zubimendi’s fine cross.

In so doing he became the first Arsenal player to score his first three Arsenal goals in the Champions League.

He has not only proved himself a more than able deputy to Bukayo Saka, yet he is also providing genuine competition for the right-wing position.

2 - Martinelli makes history:

– Gabi Martinelli continues to excel in this competition.

Talking of making club history. Gabi Martinelli’s second half screamer made it five goals in as many consecutive Champions League games.

The first Arsenal player ever to do so - and when you think of some of the illustrious names to represent the club in Europe’s premier competition that is quite the achievement.

He is one of many wide options vying for a starting place in the team and when you consider that we are unlikely to have any of strikers reach 20 goals in all competitions, those goal contributions from other areas are absolutely vital.

3 - Full use of the squad should reap dividends:

– we started this game without three of our first choice back four with Gabriel, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber all ruled out through injury, Cristian Mosquera remains sidelined too of course.

Declan Rice missed this match due to illness, with Bukayo Saka starting on the bench. Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz were also absent through injury.

However, the strength of the squad was in evidence albeit we lived a little dangerously at times. Christian Norgaard came in a centre back to partner Piero Hincapie. David Raya had to be alert on a number of occasions to record his fifteenth clean sheet so far.

Gabriel Jesus returned from eleventh months on the treatment table to a welcome return to action and was unlucky to see his effort hit the crossbar.

There was even time for 16 year defender Marli Salmon to make his first team debut – a night he will surely never forget.

Now attention turns to Wolves at home on Saturday evening as we look to get our a Premier League campaign back on track.