September 16, (THEWILL) — Arsenal claimed a vital 2-0 victory against Athletic Club in their UEFA Champions League opener at San Mamés, with substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard proving decisive. The Gunners dominated possession but struggled to create clear chances during a frustrating first half in Bilbao.
The North London side’s patient approach limited Athletic Club’s opportunities whilst restricting their own attacking threat. Viktor Gyökeres managed only one tame effort on target during the opening 30 minutes, with Noni Madueke providing the brightest moments for the visitors despite the home side’s stubborn defensive display.
Mikel Arteta’s side continued to struggle after the interval, rarely troubling goalkeeper Unai Simón. Madueke forced a near-post save whilst Mikel Merino directed a header straight into the Spanish keeper’s hands, prompting visible frustration from the Arsenal manager on the touchline.
The introduction of Trossard and Martinelli after the hour mark transformed the match. Trossard’s clever flick released Martinelli, whose pace took him clear of the Athletic defence before the Brazilian calmly opened the scoring. The roles reversed for the second goal when Martinelli’s sprint to the byline created the opportunity for Trossard to double the advantage via a deflection.
Trossard’s 87th-minute strike completed a crucial victory for Arsenal in their European campaign opener. The Belgian’s goal, assisted by Martinelli’s pace and crossing ability, gave the Gunners three valuable points after a challenging evening in Spain’s Basque region.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
