09-Dec-2025

Six of the Best? Gunners Eyeing European Perfection Against Brugge

Ok Gunners, it's Champions League night again, and this time we're heading to Belgium to face Club Brugge. Now, I know the weekend's result against Aston Villa still stings a bit, but let's talk about Europe. The Opta supercomputer has us as massive favourites, giving us a whopping 66.9% chance of victory. And honestly, it's hard to argue with that when you look at our record. We've won our last nine Champions League group stage matches, and if we can make it ten against Brugge, we'll match a feat only Liverpool has achieved for an English club.

We've been absolutely solid in Europe this season, scoring plenty and conceding very little. While Brugge have shown they can score goals at home, their defence has looked a bit leaky in the competition this year. So, while we need to be wary, especially of players like Carlos Forbs who’s been dangerous on home soil, I'm feeling confident we can get the job done and keep that perfect European record intact. Let's go make it six wins from six!

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Club Brugge vs Arsenal Prediction: Will Gunners Maintain Perfect European Record? | Opta Analyst

Look ahead to this UEFA Champions League game at Jan Breydel Stadium with our Club Brugge vs Arsenal prediction and preview.

The "Dangerous Circle" of Injuries: Arteta's Growing Concern

Now let's talk about the injury situation. Arteta has described it as the "dangerous circle", where missing players mean others have to carry an even heavier load. It's a tough balancing act, especially with the relentless fixture list we're facing.

Arteta's been pretty open about it, mentioning how the constant demands are taking their toll. He's pointed out that some of our lads have played an incredible number of games over the last couple of seasons, and at some point, that's bound to lead to breakdowns. It's not about blaming anyone, but it's a stark reminder that our players aren't machines, and the intensity of top-flight football, especially with European commitments, is immense.

While we've managed to navigate these challenges remarkably well so far, it's a real test of our squad depth and resilience. The hope is that we can get some key players back soon, especially as we head into crucial periods where silverware dreams are often realised. We'll keep our fingers crossed for a swift return for our injured stars!

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Arteta fears Arsenal trophy hunt could be hindered by ‘dangerous circle’ of injuries

Mikel Arteta fears that Arsenal’s quest for silverware this season could be undermined by a ‘dangerous circle’ of mounting injuries

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After watching Declan Rice and Cristhian Mosquera limp off in Arsenal’s 2–0 win over Brentford, Mikel Arteta again highlighted the demands placed on elite players, stressing they are “not machines”. Arsenal have now played 21 matches since their season began on 17 August, with many internationals adding six more games for their countries. That’s roughly […]

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Gabby's Back in the Champions League Fold!

Finally, some rather interesting news has emerged from the Arsenal camp ahead of our Champions League fixture. It seems Gabriel Jesus has been added to the squad list, replacing young Max Dowman. Now, I know many of us have been eagerly awaiting Gabby's return after that nasty ACL injury he picked up back in January. It's fantastic to see him back ahead of schedule and eligible to play in Europe again – a massive boost to our attacking options, wouldn't you agree?

On the flip side, it's a bit of a bummer for Max. The 15-year-old sensation, who made history as the youngest ever Champions League player for us, has unfortunately picked up an ankle injury. He'll be out for a bit, but the good news is he'll be eligible for the B-list once he turns 16, so we'll see him back in UEFA action in the new year. It's a tough break for him, but as Mikel Arteta mentioned, these things happen at this level, and it's a chance for him to learn and grow. For now, though, let's welcome Gabby back to the big stage!

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Gabriel Jesus registered for UEFA Champions League

Our Brazilian striker has replaced Max Dowman on our UEFA A list with immediate effect

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Gabriel Jesus and Max Dowman have travelled with the Arsenal U21 squad to face Manchester United in a friendly today, the club have confirmed. Jesus, who hasn’t played competitively since January d…

How much of an impact can Gabriel Jesus have?

We didn't get the Mikel Arteta press conference that I swore I saw somebody say was going to happen yesterday, but what we did get was sight of Gabriel Jesus in full first team training, which is lovely to see. I doubt it will mean anything for this weekend, because he'll need probably a few