Arsenal whip Athletic Bilbao in Champions League opener

Arsenal substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard scored two late goals to secure a 2-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao in their Champions League opener on Tuesday.

Arsenal, last season’s beaten semi-finalists, got off to a winning start in the Basque country as they shaded a tight game at the San Mames stadium in the first of eight group matches.

The Gunners, chasing a first major trophy since 2020 and their first ever Champions League win, ground out their victory with a typically sturdy defensive display and their late goals.

Martinelli scored in the 72nd minute, 36 seconds after coming off the bench, before Trossard added a second after 87 minutes, each setting the other up.

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Athletic Bilbao, back in the competition for the first time in 11 years, were on top in the early stages, buoyed by boisterous home support.

Their coach Ernesto Valverde lined up with an entire team of players making their Champions League debut, including talisman striker Inaki Williams but not his injured brother Nico Williams.

Arsenal started with four Spaniards, including two Basque midfielders in Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi, who used to play for Athletic’s rivals Real Sociedad.

The Gunners, missing several regulars including Bukayo Saka, began to turn the tide through the movement of Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke’s persistence on the right wing.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta brought on Martinelli for the ineffective Eberechi Eze and immediately found the goal he craved as the Gunners countered at pace.

Martinelli ran on to Trossard’s pass, took a fine touch to leave Andoni Gorosabel trailing in his wake and then fired under Unai Simon.

The Brazilian was involved again in the second, cutting the ball back for Trossard, who beat Simon with the help of a deflection.