ARSENAL cruised to a comfortable win against Club Brugge tonight – and it proved to be a historic occasion for Gabriel Martinelli.
The Brazilian added his name to the scoresheet in the second half at the Jan Breydel Stadium.
That came after a Noni Madueke brace had already put the Gunners on course for the 3-0 victory.
And Martinelli’s goal allowed him to become the first-ever Arsenal player to score in five successive Champions League appearances.
He had also netted in the wins against Athletic Bilbao, Olympiacos, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Martinelli is the first Gunners star to achieve that feat in a major European competition since Thierry Henry scored in a sixth UEFA Cup showdown on the trot in April 2000.
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The forward, 24, nutmegged Club Brugge right-back Hugo Siquet before hammering an unstoppable shot past Dani van den Heuvel from outside the area.
The goalkeeper was only between the sticks because ex-Liverpool man Simon Mignolet had to pull out of the hosts’ starting line-up after suffering an injury in the warm-up.
Martinelli has now scored six goals in all competitions this season – with only one of those strikes coming outside the Champions League.
That solitary occasion was the last-gasp equaliser in the potentially crucial draw with fellow title-chasers Manchester City in September.
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Arsenal’s triumph in Belgium allowed them to remain three points clear at the top of the Champions League table.
Mikel Arteta’s side still have to travel to the San Siro to face Inter Milan and will host minnows Kairat Almaty before the knockout phase.
Despite Martinelli’s stunning form in front of goal, there have been suggestions that Arsenal are willing to sell him in January.
He has been with the Gunners since joining from Ituano in 2019 and has gone on to make close to 250 appearances for the North Londoners.
Martinelli will be looking to hold onto his starting place when Arsenal return to Premier League action against Wolves on Saturday.
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