Mikel Arteta has a big call to make for Arsenal's upcoming games after one player's performance during their 3-0 victory against Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The Gunners were hoping to maintain their 100% record in the competition, while their Belgian opponents came into the game without a win since matchweek one. And the visitors, who dominated possession, found the breakthrough thanks a wonderful strike from Noni Madueke, who beat a couple of defenders before lashing the ball in from range.
Brugge weren't to be deterred, though, as they pushed for an equaliser before half-time, and David Raya had to be alert to deny Christos Tzolis and then Aleksandar Stankovic in quick succession. However, Arsenal needed just two minutes of the second half to double their advantage, as Madueke nodded home Martin Zubimendi's cross to grab a brace.
Less than 10 minutes later, Gabriel Martinelli grabbed the north London club's third of the evening, as he curled home a fantastic effort. Victory puts the Gunners three points clear of second-placed Bayern Munich, with them all but guaranteeing their place in the knockout stages of the competition.
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Christian Norgaard Shines at Centre-Back
Arsenal's Christian Norgaard walks to training.
Arsenal's Christian Norgaard before a training session at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, London Colney. Picture date: Tuesday December 9, 2025. (Photo by John Walton/PA Images/Alamy Images/Sipa USA)
Madueke will steal all the limelight for his exceptional performance, which could give Arteta a selection headache considering the Spaniard also has Bukayo Saka to call on. But an even bigger selection dilemma could come at centre-back, thanks to Christian Norgaard's display in unfamiliar territory.
Injuries to Gabriel and William Saliba have led to the manager pondering over his best options at the heart of his backline. Jurrien Timber and Piero Hincapie didn't look especially convincing in their 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa, which led to their summer signing from Brentford starting alongside the latter for the match against Brugge.
Despite typically playing as a midfielder in his career, Norgaard didn't look especially phased at centre-back. If anything, he provided a degree of leadership and composure to the backline, while also pushing his team up the pitch.
Over the course of the game, the Danish international won 100% of his tackles (three) while making four clearances and two interceptions. And while he might not have won either of his aerial duels, he was combative on the turf, losing just one out of four contested balls.
Check Out Norgaard's Match Statistics Below:
Christian Norgaard Statistics During Club Brugge 0-3 Arsenal
Minutes
Touches
Tackles (Won)
Interceptions
Clearances
Blocked Shots
Recoveries
Ground Duels (Won)
Aerial Duels (Won)
Accurate Passes
Crisp and accurate with his passing too, it could very well tempt Arteta to start Norgaard in Arsenal's upcoming match against Wolves on Saturday, especially considering that Saliba is still a doubt for the match. It would allow Timber to shift back to the right flank, and could very well mean that the absence of their preferred starting defenders isn't felt too much.
Fans Laud 'Superb' Norgaard for Performance vs Brugge
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Christian Norgaard walk to training.
UEFA Champions League - Arsenal Training - Arsenal Training Centre, London Colney, Britain - November 3, 2025 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Christian Norgaard during training Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
Having questioned the decision to sign Norgaard in the aftermath of the loss to Villa, many Arsenal fans seemingly wouldn't be opposed to seeing the 31-year-old start on Saturday. Reacting to his performance against Brugge, a substantial number were quick to praise his efforts on the European stage, stating that he looks at home at centre-back.
One fan wrote: "Norgaard in CB might be something." And that was echoed by another, who said: "Norgaard at CB has actually been the best defender tonight."
A fellow Arsenal supporter dubbed his performance as "unreal," something which another agreed with. They wrote: "Norgaard is having a top game."
Hailed as "fantastic" by another, one more stated: "Big credit to Norgaard tonight as he’s been superb at CB." And a final fan added: "I might be right about Norgaard. What a performance today."