Arsenal faced Club Brugge in Belgium, marking a key moment with Viktor Gyokeres making his first start since November 1. Under the guidance of Mikel Arteta, five significant changes were implemented to the squad that competed against Aston Villa.
Starting Lineup Changes
Gyokeres was joined in the starting lineup by:
- Christian Norgaard
- Myles Lewis-Skelly
- Noni Madueke
- Gabriel Martinelli
These adjustments were made in response to the absence of Jurrien Timber, requiring a defensive reshuffle. Additionally, Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard were not included in the squad.
Injury Updates and New Additions
Gabriel Jesus was notably added to the Champions League roster, emerging as a substitute after a long hiatus of 332 days from competitive matches. The bench also featured academy midfielder Louie Copley (19) and other young talents:
- Josh Nichols
- Marli Salmon
Club Brugge’s Setup
In this match, Simon Mignolet, a former Sunderland and Liverpool goalkeeper, returned as the starter for Club Brugge. Carlos Forbs was the sole change from their recent 3-2 defeat against St Truiden.
This match also marked the debut of Ivan Leko, the new manager for Club Brugge, bringing in a wave of fresh energy for the team.
Match Lineups
The lineups for both teams were as follows:
| Arsenal | Club Brugge |
|---|---|
| Raya | Mignolet |
| White | Ordonez |
| Norgaard | Mechele |
| Hincapie | Seys |
| Lewis-Skelly | Siquet |
| Merino | Vanaken |
| Zubimendi | Stankovic |
| Odegaard | Tresoldi |
| Madueke | Tzolis |
| Martinelli | Forbs |
| Gyokeres | Onyedika |
Substitutes included prominent players like Kepa Arrizabalaga and Saka for Arsenal, while Club Brugge had options like De Corte and Campbell on their bench. This match was set to be a vital encounter in the competition for both teams.
