Arsenal Face Crucial Test as Club Brugge Clash Looms: Team News and Bold Predictions
Arsenal look to preserve their flawless Champions League campaign when they visit Club Brugge in the sixth matchday of the league stage.
The North London side remains the sole team with a perfect record across all five European fixtures this season, delivering their most commanding performance when they defeated Bayern Munich 3–1 at home two weeks prior.
This outstanding beginning virtually secures their direct qualification to the last 16, allowing Mikel Arteta the chance to rotate his tired players. Last Saturday saw Arsenal suffer only their second defeat of the campaign, as Emiliano Buendía's stoppage-time strike gave Aston Villa a dramatic 2–1 triumph at their home ground.
The table-toppers will encounter a Club Brugge side that recently dismissed manager Nicky Hayen, despite his crucial role in their previous season's achievements. A disappointing stretch of just two victories in seven matches sealed the Belgian tactician's fate. Brugge have dropped to third place domestically and managed only one win from their five European group matches.
They presently occupy 26th position with four points, likely needing to double that total across their remaining three fixtures to secure a spot in the knockout playoff stage, which they reached under Hayen's guidance last campaign.
Here's Sports Illustrated's preview of Wednesday's European encounter.
What Time Does Club Brugge vs. Arsenal Kick-Off?
Club Brugge vs. Arsenal Head-to-Head Record
This marks the inaugural competitive fixture between Club Brugge and Arsenal.
Current Form (All Competitions)
Club Brugge | Arsenal |
|---|---|
STVV 3–2 Club Brugge - 06/12/25 | Aston Villa 1–1 Arsenal - 06/12/25 |
Oud-Heverlee Leuven 1–2 Club Brugge - 03/12/25 | Arsenal 2–0 Brentford - 03/12/25 |
Club Brugge 0–1 Royal Antwerp - 30/11/25 | Chelsea 1–1 Arsenal - 30/11/25 |
Sporting CP 3–0 Club Brugge - 26/11/25 | Arsenal 3–1 Bayern Munich - 26/11/25 |
Club Brugge 1–0 Charleroi - 22/11/25 | Arsenal 4–1 Tottenham - 23/11/25 |
How to Watch Club Brugge vs. Arsenal on TV
Country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | discovery+, discovery+ App, TNT Sports 2 |
United States | Paramount+, DAZN USA |
Canada | DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada |
Mexico | FOX One |
Club Brugge Team News
Hayen's replacement, Ivan Leko, faces an extremely challenging debut assignment, with Brugge confronting Arsenal while missing several key squad members.
Both primary goalkeeper Nordin Jackers and backup Simon Mignolet are unavailable for Wednesday's match, meaning former Leeds United keeper Dani van den Heuvel will likely guard the goal.
Zaid Romero remains sidelined with a back problem, while Ludovit Reis and Lynnt Audoor are questionable due to shoulder and muscular concerns, respectively.
It remains to be seen which tactical approach Leko will employ for his Brugge debut. He favored a 3-4-2-1 formation early in the season with Gent, before transitioning to a 4-2-3-1 setup during his final month there.
Club Brugge Predicted Lineup vs. Arsenal
Club Brugge predicted lineup vs. Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Van den Heuvel; Siquet, Ordóñez, Mechele, Seys; Onyedika, Stanković; Forbs, Vanaken, Tzolis; Vermant.
Arsenal Team News
Declan Rice, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard were all absent from training before the journey to Belgium and remain uncertain for Wednesday's fixture.
Arteta suggested Saliba's quick comeback last week, but the French center-back is poised to miss his fourth consecutive match. Trossard had just returned from a brief layoff at the weekend but has sustained another injury, while Rice traveled to Villa Park with a minor calf complaint yet completed the full 90 minutes.
Resting the England midfielder would likely be prudent, considering his importance to Arteta throughout the season's latter half.
Cristhian Mosquera will be out until January with an ankle injury, while Gabriel and Kai Havertz also remain in the medical room for the Gunners. Gabriel Martinelli, Viktor Gyökeres, Christian Nørgaard, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are all expected to enter the starting eleven.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Club Brugge
Arsenal predicted lineup vs. Club Brugge (4-3-3): Raya; White, Timber, Hincapié, Lewis-Skelly; Nørgaard, Merino, Nwaneri; Saka, Gyökeres, Martinelli.
Club Brugge vs. Arsenal Score Prediction
The managerial switch from the home side could complicate matters, with Leko potentially revitalizing a struggling Brugge squad. The dismissal appears unfair to Hayen, considering his accomplishments with the club last season.
Both sides will likely field weakened lineups for this clash, and Arsenal should expect a battle in Belgium. Many teams have struggled at the Jan Breydelstadion previously, including Barcelona last month, and Arsenal are unlikely to cruise past their hosts on Wednesday.
Rather, a grinding affair in Belgium awaits the visitors, who might need to recall their autumn form and settle the match through a well-executed set-piece.