Three things we learned from Arsenal win as Noni Madueke silences critics and Gabriel Jesus shines on return | OneFootball

Christian Norgaard adds to positive night with impressive display as returning Arsenal star offers timely reminder

Noni Madueke scored twice as Arsenal kept up their perfect start to this season’s Champions League.

Gabriel Martinelli sealed the three points shortly after that and Mikel Arteta’s side have now won all six of their games in this season’s Champions League.

Standard Sport’s Simon Collings watched Arsenal in action…

Madueke silences his critics

It is easy to forget, but Madueke arrived at Arsenal under a cloud in the summer.

Gunners fans were up in arms about the club splashing over £50million to sign the winger from Chelsea.

In fact, supporters were so upset that over 5,000 of them signed a petition urging the club to pull out of the deal.

Slowly but surely, Madueke is silencing the critics - and any remaining doubters will be believers after his first goal against Brugge.

There are still six months left of this season, but it is unlikely Arsenal will score a better one and the winger may well have already wrapped up the club’s Goal of the Season award.

It will certainly take some beating. Picking the ball up out wide, Madueke shrugged off two defenders before smashing it into the top corner via the crossbar.

His second goal was far easier, with the 23-year-old nodding home a header at the back post from Martin Zubimendi’s cross.

Jesus shines on his return

Martinelli wrapped up the win for Arsenal with a brilliant, curled strike into the top corner.

It was the best goal the Gunners had scored…since the one from Madueke half an hour before it.

Martinelli made history with the goal, becoming the first Arsenal player to score in five consecutive Champions League matches, but it was another Gabriel that caught the eye.

Gabriel Jesus made his first appearance since January, coming of the bench to play the final 30 minutes.

Back in action: Gabriel Jesus

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The striker has been absent with a knee injury, describing the period out as the toughest of his career.

The Brazilian has played two friendlies in recent weeks, but he still looked very sharp in what was his first competitive outing in nearly a year.

Jesus hit the crossbar with an effort and he combined well with Arsenal’s other attackers. There is still a way for him to go as he gets back to full fitness, however this was a promising start.

Norgaard steps up

Arteta will have been delighted to see his attackers impressing, but equally pleasing will have been the fact that Arsenal kept a clean sheet.

The Gunners’ defence has been decimated by injuries in recent weeks and Arteta spoke in the build-up to this game how they were in a “dangerous circle”.

Arteta had only one fit centre-back at his disposal for this clash with Brugge in Piero Hincapie and he could not partner him with right-back Jurrien Timber - as he did at Villa Park - because the Dutchman is now injured, too.

Timber is recovering from a “bad kick” during the Villa game and was left out of the squad to face Brugge, joining fellow defenders Christian Mosquera, Gabriel and William Saliba on the sidelines.

Composed at the back: Christian Norgaard

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In their absence, midfielder Christian Norgaard was forced to fill in at centre-back. He has done so in the past for his old club Brentford, but this was the Champions League.

The Dane has also had a lack of minutes this season, however he acquitted himself well against Brugge.

Norgaard made a number of vital interceptions and, given the circumstances, rose to the occasion with a good performance.