Arsenal opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, as Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard's second-half strikes proved to be the difference.
2025/2026 UEFA Champions League
0-2
Match Report
BLOODIED and bruised, Arsenal have Gabriel Martinelli to thank for a magical 36-SECOND match-winning intervention.
In a game with few clear chances, second-half substitutes Martinelli and Trossard came up with the goods late on, earning the Gunners a hard-fought three points on the road.
While Bilbao started the more brightly at San Mames, it was Arsenal who were presented with the best opportunity of the first half when Viktor Gyokeres met Jurrien Timber's precise cross with a diving header in the 30th minute, but the ball sailed just wide.
That was one of just four Arsenal shots in the first half, their lowest total in the opening 45 minutes of a game since last December (three v Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup).
But when Mikel Arteta turned to his bench to make an impact, the substitutes duly obliged.
Martinelli opened the scoring after an intricate flick from Trossard set him free from the halfway line, with the Brazilian slotting past Unai Simon in the 72nd minute, just 36 seconds after coming on.
In the 87th minute, Martinelli repaid the favour, assisting Trossard by cutting the ball back from the byline, with the Belgian's subsequent strike taking a fortuitous deflection over a helpless Simon.
Data Debrief: Rice pulls the strings as Arsenal make it six in a row
Even though it was the super-subs who made the difference, Declan Rice was at the centre for the Gunners once again as he registered the most chances created of any other player (three), and joint-most passes in the final third (15).
The England international was also integral in driving Arsenal into the danger areas, recording the most final third entries (10) of any outfield player.
Arsenal became the first team in European Cup/Champions League history to beat Spanish sides in six consecutive matches, having won all five in the last two seasons (two each vs Real Madrid and Sevilla, one vs Girona).
The Gunners have won five consecutive group stage/league phase matches in the Champions League for the first time since a run of six between December 2004 and November 2005.
With Martinelli and Trossard both assisting each other, it is the first time Arsenal substitutes have combined for multiple goals in the same Champions League match.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
7' Yellow Card! Rice booked
12' Timber makes a key rescue!
24' Gyokeres gets away and bears down on Simon's goal but the Spanish keeper saves
25' Timber puts in a cross but Gyokeres's header flashes wide
32' Gabriel and Gyokeres both go for the same ball and clash heads. Bleeding badly
35' Arsenal medical staff patch up Gyokeres but it looks a deep cut
42' Athletic Club launches a counter-attack
47' Free kick whipped in by Declan Rice but Gyokeres sends his effort wide
48' Mistake by Gabriel. Athletic Club win a corner
56' Simon saves from Madueke
57' Zubimendi loses the ball. Athletic Club steam forward but Raya saves comfortably
65' Gyokeres off,Trossard in
70' Eze out,Martinelli in
72' Super sub Martinelli runs through and slots the ball! Athletic Club 0-1 Arsenal
78' Another accidental clash of heads and Merino has blood streaming from his head
87' Martinelli turns provider for Trossard! Athletic Club 0-2 Arsenal
Line-ups
Athletic Club XI: I.Williams, Gorosabel, Vesga, Berenguer, Unai Simón, Dani Vivian, Robert Navarro, Oihan Sancet, Aitor Paredes, Adama Boiro, Mikel Jauregizar
Subs: Berchiche, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Lekue, Gorka Guruzeta, Jesús Areso, Nico Serrano, Álex Padilla, Alejandro Rego, Unai Gómez, Jon de Luis, Maroan Sannadi, Mikel Santos
Arsenal XI: David Raya, Merino, Rice, Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel, Eberechi Eze, Martín Zubimendi, Madueke, Timber, Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera
Subs: Christian Nørgaard, Trossard, Kepa, Martinelli, Saliba, Hincapie, Tommy Setford, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Max Dowman