Arsenal, aiming to maintain their flawless Champions League record despite recent Premier League fatigue and a mounting injury list, face a challenging European fixture against a managerless and injury-hit Club Brugge in Belgium.
Arsenal travels to face Club Brugge on Wednesday, December 10, aiming to protect their perfect 100% record in the 2025–26 Champions League league phase.
The Gunners, who recently defeated Bayern Munich 3–1, have already secured automatic progression to the round of 16.
However, Mikel Arteta’s side enters the match fatigued and reeling from a late 2–1 Premier League loss to Aston Villa over the weekend.
The match offers Arteta a chance to rotate his “fatiguing squad,” but key players like Declan Rice, William Saliba, and Leandro Trossard are fitness doubts.
Opponents Club Brugge are dealing with internal chaos, having just parted ways with manager Nicky Hayen after a run of two wins in seven games.
New coach Ivan Leko faces a difficult debut, with first- and second-choice goalkeepers Nordin Jackers and Simon Mignolet both confirmed as absent for the fixture.
This inaugural competitive meeting between the two clubs is predicted to be a demanding “slog in Belgium” for the visitors, despite Brugge’s turmoil.
The change in management could motivate an underperforming Brugge side, who currently sit 26th in the league phase table.
Given the high probability of squad depletion on both sides, the encounter is expected to be a tough fight, potentially decided by “one slick set-piece routine.”