Arsenal beat Athletic Bilbao at San Mames on Tuesday in the opening round of the Champions League campaign, with Gabriel Martinelli (72′) and Leandro Trossard (87′) coming off the bench to put their names on the scoresheet.
Teams
The hosts were without winger Nico Williams, midfielder Benat Prados, and defender Unai Egiluz, through different injury issues, while defender Yeray Alvarez remains suspended due to a failed doping test.
Unai Simon was in goal. Andoni Gorosabel on the right, Adama Boiro on the left, and the centre-back duo of Dani Vivian and Aitor Paredes, formed the back line. Mikel Jauregizar paired up with Mikel Vesga in the middle of the park, while the trio of Alex Berenguer, Oihan Sancet and Robert Navarro started behind striker Inaki Williams.
As for Arsenal, defender Ben White, attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard, winger Bukayo saka, and strikers Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, missed out through injury. Defender William Saliba had problems as well, and he was only able to make the bench.
With David Raya between the posts, Christhian Mosquera replaced Saliba in the heart of defence next to Gabriel Magalhaes. Riccardo Calafiori was on the left defensive flank, Jurrien Timber was on the right. Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino started in midfield, while striker Viktor Gyokeres had the support of wingers Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze.
Match recap
The match was cagey for long periods—Bilbao showed plenty of fight, pressing aggressively, making life difficult for Arsenal especially in the first half, when chances were scarce and both clubs lacked a cutting edge.
In that first half, Arsenal had moments – Gyokeres tested Simon with a low shot, Madueke looked lively on the right, and Eze nearly had a scoring opportunity from a cut-back, only for Gorosabel to make a last-ditch sliding interception. But Bilbao’s defensive structure held firm, and Simon was not overly troubled.
After the break, Arsenal gradually gained more control, but the breakthrough didn’t come until later. Mikel Arteta’s substitutions proved decisive: Trossard came on first, and then replaced Eze around the 71st minute. Astonishingly, Martinelli needed less than a minute (around 36 seconds) to score: a flicked through-ball from Trossard found Martinelli, who raced in, controlled things, and slotted under Simon.
Bilbao tried to respond, pushing forward, but Arsenal defended resolutely and kept their shape well. In the 87th minute, Martinelli again was involved: after beating his marker and getting down the byline, he cut the ball back to Trossard, whose shot—though somewhat deflected—found its way into the net to seal the win.
Substitutes make the difference
For much of the contest, Arsenal struggled to turn possession into clear chances, and Athletic Bilbao looked comfortable defending their ground. That balance changed when Mikel Arteta turned to his bench. The introductions of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli completely altered the flow of the game, providing fresh pace, precision, and penetration in the final third.
Martinelli’s impact was immediate—scoring less than a minute after coming on—and it underscored the depth Arsenal now possess. His direct running unsettled Bilbao’s back line, while Trossard’s intelligence in finding pockets of space made him a constant threat. The pair combined again for the second goal, sealing the victory and showing just how vital Arsenal’s squad depth could be in a long European campaign.
Bilbao’s brave resistance
Athletic Bilbao entered the tie determined not to be overawed by their Premier League visitors. Their aggressive pressing and physical duels in midfield kept Arsenal from finding rhythm early on. Simon made a couple of sharp saves, while defenders like Gorosabel threw themselves into key challenges, keeping the match level for more than 70 minutes.
Though ultimately undone by the quality from Arsenal’s substitutes, Bilbao can take positives from the way they frustrated their opponents for much of the evening. The Basques showed they can be highly competitive at this level, and San Mames remains a difficult venue for visiting teams. They lacked the clinical edge in attack, but their resilience suggests they may still have a strong say in how this group unfolds.
Squad depth likely to prove vital for Arsenal
This was not a free-flowing Arsenal performance, but it was one that revealed the maturity and patience that Arteta has instilled in his side.
Instead of growing frustrated as the first half wore on without a breakthrough, the Gunners trusted their system and relied on their fitness and quality to tilt the match late on. That composure was rewarded when the fresh legs of Trossard and Martinelli decided the contest.
Winning tough away matches is often what separates contenders from also-rans in Europe, and this was a demonstration that Arsenal have evolved into a team capable of grinding results when necessary.
Their defensive discipline also deserves credit—Athletic rarely carved out a genuine opening, and the Gunners managed the closing stages with authority once the second goal went in.
