Arsenal Defeat Athletic Club 2-0 in Champions League Opener

Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club: Martinelli and Trossard score in Bilbao as Arsenal open their Champions League campaign with a strong win.

Arsenal began their UEFA Champions League campaign with a confident 2-0 win over Athletic Club in Bilbao. The match, played at San Mamés Stadium, showcased Arsenal’s depth and tactical flexibility, especially in the second half.

The first half of the Arsenal vs Athletic Club clash was tightly contested. Athletic Club, energized by their home crowd, pressed high and controlled early possession. However, they failed to create clear scoring chances.

Arsenal, missing key players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard, struggled to build momentum. Viktor Gyökeres came close with a header, but the ball drifted wide.

Second Half: Arsenal’s Substitutes Make the Difference

After the break, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made two crucial substitutions. He brought on Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, and the impact was immediate.

Just seconds after entering the pitch, Martinelli scored the opening goal. He sprinted past defenders and calmly finished after receiving a smart pass from Trossard.

Later, Martinelli turned provider. He cut the ball back to Trossard, whose deflected shot found the net, sealing the 2-0 victory.

Match Stats and Highlights

• Possession: Arsenal 60%, Athletic Club 40%
• Goals: Martinelli (72’), Trossard (87’)
• Key Player: Declan Rice led in chances created and final third entries

Arsenal’s win marks their sixth consecutive victory against Spanish opposition in European competition—a new record.

The match proved the Gunners are ready for Europe’s elite. With smart substitutions and clinical finishing, Arsenal secured three valuable points away from home.

Athletic Club showed promise but lacked the cutting edge needed at this level. They’ll need to regroup quickly for their next group stage match.

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