Mikel Arteta hails Noni Madueke’s ‘magic moments’ after Champions League double
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Arsenal's Noni Madueke scores their first goal in the 3-0 Champions League win over Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadium on Dec 10.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BRUGES – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta showered praise on Noni Madueke, highlighting his dribbling prowess and willingness to take on players after the winger scored twice in a 3-0 Champions League victory at Belgium’s Club Brugge.
Madueke opened the scoring in the match on Dec 10 with a thunderous strike in the 25th minute.
“Unbelievable goal. When you talk about individual quality and individual action and magic moments, that’s it,” Arteta told reporters. “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 23-year-old then extended Arsenal’s lead in the second half with a header from close range, before Gabriel Martinelli scored the third as the Gunners remain top of the league standings with six wins from six.
Englishman Madueke, who joined the club from Chelsea in July, has netted three times in two Champions League matches – the first in a 3-1 win over Bayern Munich in November following his return from a knee injury.
He started on the right flank against Brugge, a position usually occupied by Bukayo Saka, and Arteta said some healthy competition between the two would help both players maintain a high level.
“They both have different qualities as well, and it’s great because we’re going to need them,” the Spaniard added.
“We are playing every three days, and players with that freshness and with that bite in the teeth as well. Understanding that they have to perform at their level, and this is the standard that we set. It’s something really good...
“It’s about consistency. It’s not a game, it’s two games, three games. It’s when you do 10 games in a row every three days and that’s the level that we have to hit.”
Premier League leaders Arsenal next host bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers on Dec 13.
In another match, Paris Saint-Germain played out their first 0-0 draw of the season at Athletic Bilbao. But the defending champions stayed in the driving seat for direct qualification for the Champions League last 16, despite a string of fine saves by home goalkeeper Unai Simon denying them.
Luis Enrique’s side had the clearest chances after being under pressure in the first half, but Simon produced several superb saves and Ousmane Dembele’s absence was once again felt up front by the visitors.
The result left PSG in third place with 13 points from six games while Bilbao are 28th on five points.
“We have to do more. Today we were not at our maximum to leave here with a win. It’s not the result we wanted. Sometimes we’re not at our level – we have to keep working. We still have time to make adjustments,” PSG fullback Nuno Mendes said.
His teammate and Portuguese compatriot Vitinha sounded a bit more frustrated.
“We always want to win. In a match like that, when you don’t score, it becomes difficult. We had too many chances – if you score, everything changes. There is always work to do, but that’s football,” the midfielder said. REUTERS
