Arsenal are now expected to sign one club's highly-rated standout attacker, with talks believed to have been held ahead of January.
Arsenal look to bounce back against Club Brugge
Arsenal arrive in Belgium tonight determined to maintain their flawless Champions League record while rebounding from Saturday's agonising 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa.
The loss ended their previous 18-match unbeaten streak, but Mikel Arteta's side have every reason to be very confident heading into their clash with Club Brugge.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans after the match
Arsenal remain the only team with a 100 per cent record from five matches in the Champions League, sitting atop the 36-team standings following impressive victories over Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, Slavia Prague, Olympiacos and Athletic Club.
So, victory at the Jan Breydel Stadium would virtually guarantee automatic qualification to the knockout stages.
However, Arsenal's defensive crisis has deepened significantly ahead of the 20:00 kick-off.
Gabriel Magalhaes (thigh) and Cristhian Mosquera (ankle) remain sidelined for several weeks, whilst William Saliba continues recovering from a knock.
TV Pundit and former player Jamie Carragher Related
["I'd be really worried" - Carragher says Arsenal now have a "huge problem"](https://www.footballfancast.com/jamie-carragher-says-arsenal-now-have-a-huge-problem/ ""I'd be really worried" - Carragher says Arsenal now have a "huge problem"")
The Sky pundit has shared a fresh concern for Mikel Arteta.
Riccardo Calafiori's fitness also remains uncertain after he was spotted limping off at Villa Park, though his Premier League suspension doesn't apply in European competition.
Fresh concerns have emerged with Declan Rice missing the trip through illness and Leandro Trossard aggravating his calf problem. Gabriel Jesus provides welcome news, though, having returned to the Champions League squad after exceeding recovery expectations from his lengthy injury absence.
Arteta is expected to rotate heavily, with Myles Lewis-Skelly, Christian Norgaard, Ethan Nwaneri and Viktor Gyokeres all pushing for starts. Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze could be rested ahead of demanding domestic fixtures.
Club Brugge, meawhile, are an opposition in disarray.
Nicky Hayen was sacked following two victories from seven matches, with Ivan Leko appointed as his successor ahead of a baptism of fire.
The Belgian side have collected just one point from their last four Champions League fixtures and currently sit 26th in the league phase. Their defensive vulnerabilities prove very alarming, having conceded 24 goals across 11 Champions League matches in 2025 — only Barcelona have shipped more.
nicky-hayen-club-brugge
Both first-choice goalkeepers, Simon Mignolet and Nordin Jackers, are also fitness doubts, though the former has returned to training.
Arsenal boast impressive Belgian form, winning three of their last four visits. Brugge's solitary victory against English opposition this century came against Aston Villa thirteen months ago, offering little encouragement ahead of facing Europe's most dominant team this season.
All signs point towards a straightforward victory for Arsenal this evening, but off the field, sporting director Andrea Berta is making plans to strengthen the squad.
Toni Fruk 'expected' to join Arsenal soon after talks
According to Sport Klub, the Italian has set his sights on HNK Rijeka star Toni Fruk.
toni-fruk-arsenal-premier-league
The attacking midfielder, who SK believe is the Croatian National League's 'best' footballer and 'most valuable' player, is said to be attracting serious interest from N5.
Arsenal have held talks over a deal for Fruk, and the outlet reports that there is an expectation he will 'soon sign' for Arteta with the Gunners in pole position ahead of other sides.
Negotiations are apparently in 'full swing', but the financial details of this potential deal are still unclear.
The 24-year-old, who's won five caps for the Croatia national team, has played as a both a number 10 and as a centre-forward this season — bagging 10 goals in all competitions already.
Fruk, who was once on the books at Fiorentina before returning to his homeland with Rijeka in 2023, could also be a very astute signing when considering his deal currently expires in 2027.
The highly-rated forward has also impressed scouts from both Liverpool and AC Milan this season, so he could be a real one to watch.