Mikel Arteta was delighted with [Arsenal’s professional display over Club Brugge](https://arseblog.news/2025/12/report-club-brugge-0-3-arsenal-inc-goals/) as his squad maintained its perfect Champions League record, powered by fine solo strikes from Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli.
Nobody was quite sure what to expect from a heavily rotated starting XI against a team that had just changed their manager, but the manager got exactly the reaction he wanted following Saturday’s late defeat at Villa Park.
“We know how difficult it is to play in the Champions League and to win away from home, and especially when we have that many players out, it makes the task bigger,” he told TNT Sports.
“But I talked to the boys, it was about showing how much we wanted it, the resilience and how we prepared.”
He added: “It was about managing, again, the amount of situations that we had in the back line, because as well, some players were there, but they could not play more than 45 minutes or 30 minutes, and to manage that has been tough, but with the attitude that the players have, I know that if I ask anybody to play there, he would do it, and they’ve done a great job.”
With injuries and illness causing more pre-game headaches, the manager had little choice but to lean on fringe players. He was particularly impressed by Christian Norgaard’s performance after the Dane filled in at centre-back with Jurrien Timber joining William Saliba, Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel Magalhaes on the sidelines.
“Christian Norgaard is a player that probably prepares the best out of all of them, and is somebody that makes all of us better every single day,” said the manager.
“He’s willing to play in any position, any condition, whether he plays more or less minutes, his attitude is always immaculate, and that’s a really good example for all of us.”
Understandably, Arteta was also impressed by Madueke and Martinelli, who traded incredible solo goals either side of the break. The former edged the player of the match vote from UEFA thanks to a second goal on the night, nodded in from close range.
“I think both of them, Noni and Gabi, were outstanding today, the level of threat they gave, the two finishes are spectacular,” said Arteta.
He also had warm words for Gabriel Jesus, whose cameo off the bench ended 11 months of frustration following ACL surgery. While the Brazilian didn’t get on the scoresheet, he was a lively presence in the closing stages.
“Gabi Jesus back after 11 months, and this so difficult journey that he’s been through with all of us, and to see him perform as well in the manner that he did, really, really positive.
“You get the injury, everybody is at you, you get the surgery, everybody is fully behind you, and then there’s a moment that you are alone, almost, and you have to go through a lot of pain and difficult moments and uncertainty.
“He’s done that a few times in his career, and it shows his mental toughness, how much he loves to play football, and we’re all delighted to have him back.”