Arsenal lived up to their billing as favourites against Athletic Club, kicking off their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory in Bilbao – thanks to the impact of two substitutes.

San Mamés was a cauldron of noise, drenched in red and white as the home fans roared Athletic forward from the first whistle. For the opening 15 minutes, the Basque side looked the sharper outfit, if not outright dominant. Arsenal, however, absorbed the pressure, slowed the tempo with their trademark control of possession, and gradually subdued the hosts’ attacking surge. The visitors themselves offered little threat before the break, aside from Viktor Gyökeres heading narrowly wide from a 26th-minute cross.

The first half ended with just one shot on target between the two teams, and an almost identical xG tally – 0.30 to 0.31 – reflecting a stalemate in front of goal.

Arteta’s changes make the difference

The pattern barely shifted after the interval. Arsenal increased their tempo slightly, but with no breakthrough in sight. That changed the moment Mikel Arteta turned to his bench. Within 36 seconds of coming on, Gabriel Martinelli latched onto a ball from deep, burst past the defence and calmly slotted home for 1-0.

With Athletic weakened by the absence of Nico Williams, the opener left them with little hope of recovery. Arsenal, in contrast, played with composure and maturity, seeing the game out without alarm. Late on, Martinelli turned provider, setting up fellow substitute Leandro Trossard to seal the 2-0 victory.

Next up, Arsenal welcome Olympiacos to the Emirates, while Athletic face a daunting trip to Dortmund.

2025-26 UEFA Champions League

Athletic Bilbao - Arsenal 0:2 (0:0)
Goals: Martinelli, 72 (0:1); Trossard, 87 (0:2)

Athletic Bilbao: Simón U.; Paredes; Boiro (Yuri Berchiche, 68); Gorosabel; Vivian; Jauregizar; Vesga (Rego A., 81); Sancet (Guruzeta, 68); Navarro Ro. (Etxebarria U., 61; Nico Serrano, 81); Alex Berenguer; Inaki Williams
Substitution: Etxebarria U. (from 61 till 81); Yuri Berchiche (from 68); Guruzeta (from 68); Rego A. (from 81); Nico Serrano (from 81)
Bench: Padilla; Areso; Lekue I.; Ruiz I.; Sannadi
Yellow Cards: Jauregizar 86

Arsenal: Raya; Mosquera Cr.; Gabriel M.; Timber J.; Calafiori (Hincapie, 91); Zubimendi; Eze (Martinelli, 71); Merino; Rice; Madueke (Nørgaard, 91); Gyökeres (Trossard, 65)
Substitution: Trossard (from 65); Martinelli (from 71); Hincapie (from 91); Nørgaard (from 91)
Bench: Arrizabalaga; Setford; Saliba; Lewis-Skelly; Nwaneri; Dowman M.
Yellow Cards: Rice 7; Madueke 86; Zubimendi 91