Arsenal begin their Champions League season with the perfect script in Bilbao, as Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard came off the bench to fire the Gunners to a 2-0 win over Athletic Club at the San Mamés, Softfootball reports.
The home side, cheered on by a passionate crowd, started on the front foot. Adama Boiro went closest with a free-kick that had the stadium on its feet, but his effort was blocked before David Raya had to react. Slowly, Arsenal found their way into the game.
After scoring for the Gunners against this same opposition during the preseason tour, Viktor Gyökeres looked sharp forcing Unai Simón into a save and then moments later put a diving header narrowly wide. The Gunners had their moments, but the first half ended with both sides evenly matched at the break.
After the break, Arsenal went on the ascendancy, with Gyökeres headed narrowly wide from a Declan Rice free-kick, while Noni Madueke forced Simón into another save with a teasing cross-shot. Athletic weren’t just passengers though ,Iñaki Williams tested Raya just before the hour mark, only for the goalkeeper to deal with it comfortably.
Then came the turning point. Arteta turned to his bench, and within seconds Martinelli made the difference. Put through by Trossard, the Brazilian kept his cool and slipped the ball under Simón to give Arsenal the lead. Minutes later, the pair linked up again, this time Martinelli turning provider as Trossard’s deflected strike found the back of the net.
Athletic will feel hard done by after a good performance, but Arsenal showed the kind of quality that defines defines the elite teams in Europe.
After the game, its only right that the player of the match went to a Arsenal player who changed the game for them, Arsenal via their Official X handle, confirmed that Gabriel Martinelli was awarded the player of the game, after scoring the opning goal and providing the assist for the second, see below;
The win not only extends their unbeaten run in opening european games to nine, but also sends a message that they’re ready to compete at all level this season, Like Mikel Arteta rightly said the Gunners are ready to compete against anyone, with this in the mind of the players and fans,the Gunners head into the weekend full of confidence. With a Premier League showdown against Manchester City underway
