Arsenal’s Substitutes Shine in 2–0 Champions League Win Over Athletic Club
Arsenal opened their Champions League campaign with a 2–0 win over Athletic Club at San Mamés. After a tight first hour, substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard changed the game. Martinelli scored just 36 seconds after coming on in the 72nd minute, then set up Trossard for the second in the 87th. Athletic fought hard but lacked cutting edge, while Arsenal’s squad depth and finishing power proved decisive.
Arsenal began their 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign with an impressive 2–0 victory over Athletic Club at San Mamés, thanks to two decisive contributions from substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
The match started with high intensity as Athletic, backed by a packed and passionate home crowd, pressed aggressively and looked to unsettle Arsenal’s rhythm. The Gunners had plenty of possession but struggled to create clear chances in the first hour, often finding themselves locked out by Athletic’s compact defending.
Mikel Arteta’s side gradually grew into the game, with Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyökeres attempting to break through on the wings and down the middle, but the finishing touch was missing. The turning point came in the 72nd minute when Arteta made a crucial change, introducing Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Within just 36 seconds of stepping onto the pitch, Martinelli made his mark. Racing onto a clever flick from Trossard, he beat the Athletic backline for pace and calmly slotted past Unai Simón to give Arsenal the breakthrough they desperately needed.
The Brazilian winger wasn’t done yet. In the 87th minute, Martinelli turned provider, driving to the byline before cutting the ball back to Trossard. The Belgian’s effort deflected into the net, doubling Arsenal’s lead and sealing the victory.
For Athletic Club, it was a frustrating night. They matched Arsenal for large portions of the match with intensity and work rate, but their lack of sharpness in the final third proved costly.
For Arsenal, the victory highlighted the depth and quality of their squad. Arteta praised the impact of his substitutes, emphasizing the importance of having players who can change games from the bench. Martinelli’s cameo earned him the Player of the Match award, and Arsenal left Bilbao with a vital three points to start their group stage campaign on the front foot.
The win sends a strong message to the rest of Europe: even when Arsenal’s starting XI struggles to find solutions, their bench has the firepower to make the difference.