Arsenal kicked off their Champions League campaign with a hard-earned 2-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao, thanks to late goals from substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
In a tense encounter at San Mames, Mikel Arteta’s side—still chasing their first-ever Champions League title—struggled early but grew into the game.
Athletic, returning to the competition after 11 years, impressed early on but couldn’t convert their chances.
Missing key players like Bukayo Saka, Arsenal relied on the energy of Viktor Gyökeres and Noni Madueke to shift momentum.
After a goalless hour, Martinelli struck just 36 seconds after coming on, finishing a Trossard pass. The Brazilian then set up Trossard for a deflected second in the 87th minute.
Arteta also handed debuts to summer signings Christian Nørgaard and Piero Hincapié, showcasing the squad depth Arsenal hopes will carry them deep into the tournament.
