Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli traded fine strikes as Arsenal beat Club Brugge 3-0 in Belgium to maintain their 100 per cent record in the Champions League.
While the Gunners rode their luck at times, the game was all but over by the hour mark, allowing Mikel Arteta to give Gabriel Jesus his first minutes since January and a debut to teenager Marli Salmon.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…
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Mikel Arteta on the win…
It’s a big win. It’s very difficult to win away from home in the Champions League, so big credit to the boys for what they have done. It’s a very tough place to come. I think we had some great moments that defined the game, and we’re really happy with six out of six. We have to go now to Inter and try to beat them as well.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Club Brugge coach Ivan Leko’s take on the game…
I think we had good moments. The first half was even against one of the best teams in Europe. We created chances, and it’s a pity we couldn’t score to make it 1-1. The second goal was key in the game. I’m happy with the mentality of my team. It was a good lesson for us to move forward. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be the coach of this club again. Tonight showed how strong the connection between our supporters and our players can be. We need to work hard to keep improving.
Source: UEFA.com
Club Brugge captain Hans Vanaken on a tough night…
We played against a very good team, but we also created chances and we gave everything. They scored a magnificent goal. Our reaction was good and in the second half, we tried to play with renewed energy. When they scored a second one, it somewhat shook our confidence.
Source: UEFA.com
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UEFA’s Technical Observer Group on awarding Noni Madueke player of the match…
Madueke was a constant danger from the right in combination with Ben White. Some shots on target in the first half and, of course, the goal. His second was easier, but nonetheless good anticipation of the cross and a good run behind his marker.
Source: UEFA.com
Noni Madueke on the squad culture driving Arsenal forward…
We’re tight. I feel like that’s the main thing. We want each other to do well. We know that there are loads of minutes for all of us. We know that we have top, top players everywhere in the squad, so it’s about all of us as a collective; it’s not really about any individual, and we know that we all have a part to play, so that’s a good thing about this team.
Source: TNT Sports
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Arteta on Gabriel Jesus returning to action…
So happy for him. I think you can see how much we all love him. It’s been a very, very difficult and long journey. For 11 months, he’s been fighting against another very difficult injury, and to see him back with that smile, with that energy and with that quality in his first performance with us is something really impressive, and we’re all delighted for him.
Source: Post-game press conference
Gabriel Jesus on his return…
Everyone was expecting me to score, and obviously, I wanted to score. I had some opportunities, but even with that, I’m so happy and so pleased, because to come back and then to have some touches that I had tonight, and then the way I could move, the way I could keep the ball. So with 11 months of helping myself and then feeling scared to come back different, maybe with some limitations, just to walk outside and then play with the boys, I’m so pleased. I feel more than ready.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Chris Sutton on Arsenal’s wingers…
Noni Madueke was a constant threat off that right-hand side tonight. He likes to come inside and get shots off, and got the second goal by attacking the far post too, which pretty much sealed the game. Gabriel Martinelli was not so effective off the left but still got a really good goal and overall it was a really good evening for Mikel Arteta when you consider how stretched his squad is and how tired they looked at the weekend.
Source: Match of the Day
Martin Keown on ‘Madu-whacky’s’ first goal…
That’s a special, special goal. The power that he generates in that shot – quite remarkable. He just sort of slowly explodes into this. Wow, there isn’t a keeper on the planet who is stopping that. He looks like he’s not really interested, but that change of pace, off he goes, he sorts his feet out beautifully and that is really well struck. It just hits the underside of the bar. Wow. No substitute for quality, by the way.
Source: TNT Sports
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Arteta on Madueke’s wonder goal, and having attackers back…
Unbelievable goal. When you talk about individual quality and individual action, a magic moment, that’s it. A player that is able to pick the ball that far, dribble past people and finish with the quality and the power that he’s done. The same as Martinelli as well. I think at this level, if you want to win games, you need individual players to step up and to do something different. I’m very happy because now we have some players back in the front line, and you can tell how much better we are with them.
Source: Post-game press conference
Owen Hargreaves on Arsenal handing a debut to 16-year-old Marli Salmon…
You know what’s remarkable, it’s not only producing these kids to play in the first team, it’s the fact they are producing these kids to play and they are so mature, they look so comfortable. At 16-years-old, 15-years-old they just come in and they are ready to play, we’ve seen it with Nwaneri, all these boys are ready, Whatever they are doing at the academy, credit to Per Mertesacker and all the coaches there, these boys are good players, but they are prepared when they get to this stage which is remarkable for 15 – 16 year old kids.
Source: TNT Sports
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Arteta on using Salmon…
He was ready, he was prepared, he can play as a centre-back or as a full-back and I’m delighted. He’s so young, 16 still, and he’s playing in the Champions League. So yeah, what a great night for him as well. That’s great, that’s what we want. That’s why we put so much work and everybody in the academy puts so much enthusiasm and work. And for a long time, you have to prepare those talents. So, thanks to them, because when we need them, they are there, they are ready to perform. So that’s great.
Source: Post-game press conference