Arsenal opened their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Athletic Club at San Mamés, thanks to second-half goals from substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
In a tense atmosphere, the hosts – making their return to the competition after nearly a decade – came out aggressively, pinning Arsenal back in the early stages. Alejandro Berenguer was a constant threat, while the Gunners struggled to find rhythm in midfield. Despite limited chances, Arsenal nearly took the lead just before half-time, but summer signing Viktor Gyokeres missed a diving header from close range.
The turning point came in the 71st minute when Mikel Arteta turned to his bench. Within seconds of entering the pitch, Martinelli latched onto a precise lofted pass from Trossard and coolly slotted past Unai Simón. Just 15 minutes later, the Brazilian turned provider, beating his marker and feeding Trossard, whose deflected shot wrong-footed the keeper to seal the result.
It was far from a dominant performance from Arsenal, but the quality of their bench proved decisive. The win highlights their growing squad depth, following a £250m summer investment, and offers a perfect start to their European campaign.
For Athletic Club, it was a spirited display, but they’ll rue missed chances and a lack of cutting edge in the final third.
