Athletic Club 0 – 2 Arsenal
Arsenal kicked off their Champions League campaign with a strong second-half performance at Athletic Bilbao’s stadium under Mikel Arteta.
Shaking off a dull first half, Arsenal played much better after the break. Substitute Gabriel Martinelli scored a brilliant goal just 36 seconds after coming on, and later another substitute, Leandro Trossard, added a goal at the end to seal a 2-0 victory.
On the opening day of the new season, Tuesday at San Mamés in Bilbao, Arsenal’s win was marked not only by the goals but also by the combined efforts of Martinelli and Trossard.
Neither team could make a mark on the scoresheet in the first half. Arsenal had one shot on target out of four, while all seven of Bilbao’s attempts went wide.
Arsenal’s striker Viktor Yokereš created the first notable chance in the 24th minute, driving into the box from midfield but failing to get a clean shot past the goalkeeper. Two minutes later, he missed a header from close range. Shortly after, he collided with a teammate while attempting another header, sustaining a head injury that caused bleeding. He continued playing with a bandage on his head.
In the 65th minute, Trossard replaced Yokereš, followed by Martinelli coming on for Ainsley Edge in the 71st minute. Almost immediately, Arsenal found the breakthrough.
Trossard delivered a brilliant pass from midfield, and Martinelli controlled the ball, shrugged off a defender, and beat the goalkeeper with a swift run into the box.
With just three minutes remaining, Arsenal made the victory almost certain with a second goal. Martinelli cut past a defender from the left, played a cut-back into the box, and Trossard calmly finished between two defenders to score.
In the second half, Arsenal had seven shots, five on target, while Bilbao managed four shots, only two on goal, without seriously troubling the goalkeeper.
Arsenal’s substitutes were the stars of the show, securing a perfect start to their Champions League journey.
