Arsenal kicked off their 2025-26 UEFA Champions League campaign in style, defeating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 away at San Mamés thanks to decisive second-half performances by their substitutes, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. The result gave Mikel Arteta’s side a perfect start in the group stage and offered plenty of encouragement after last season’s near miss in the semi-finals.
Dominant possession, but few clear chances early on
From the opening whistle, Arsenal had more of the ball and pushed forward with intent, but Athletic Bilbao defended resolutely. The hosts, making their return to the Champions League after many years, were buoyed by the home crowd and used their counter attacks as occasional threats.
Arsenal’s early attempts came largely through Viktor Gyokeres, whose movement unsettled the Bilbao backline. He had a couple of opportunities: one low shot that required handling by goalkeeper Unai Simón, and a diving header that went wide. Meanwhile Noni Madueke also showed promise, especially on the right flank. But for all of their possession, Arsenal couldn’t unlock the defence in the first 45 minutes.
The turning point: introducing impact players
It was into the second half that Arteta’s substitutions began to prove pivotal. Leandro Trossard came on for Viktor Gyokeres, and later Gabriel Martinelli replaced Eberechi Eze in the 71st minute. These changes reshaped the attacking dynamics.
Barely 36 seconds after entering the pitch, Martinelli took advantage of a flicked pass from Trossard, raced through onto the ball, and kept his composure to slot a low finish past Unai Simón to make it 1-0. The speed of the break and Martinelli’s sharpness caught Bilbao off guard.
As the clock ticked towards full time, Martinelli once again combined with Trossard. This time Martinelli cut back from the byline and played in Trossard, who found the net — aided by a deflection — to seal the win for Arsenal.
Defensive resolve and squad depth
While the goals came from the bench, the foundation was laid in defence and with midfield control. Arsenal held firm against Bilbao’s physicality and intensity, limiting clear high-quality chances. Players like Declan Rice, Gabriel (defender), Jurrien Timber and others in the backline were important in nullifying Bilbao’s threats.
The win highlighted Arsenal’s growing strength in depth. Multiple new arrivals and substitutes came off the bench and delivered when needed. In post-match comments, Arteta emphasised that sometimes finishers will be “more important than starters,” praising Martinelli’s attitude, energy and match-impact, as well as Trossard’s composure.
Significance and what’s next
This victory represents more than just three points. It marks a strong start in a competition where Arsenal fell just short last season. Winning away at San Mamés is never easy, especially against a Bilbao side making a return to Europe. It boosts confidence among the squad and reinforces belief in Arteta’s strategy and substitutions policy.
Arsenal’s next match in the Champions League group will be at home vs Olympiakos on October 1. For Bilbao, a trip to Borussia Dortmund follows. These matches will test whether Arsenal can maintain momentum, especially in fixtures where they cannot rely as heavily on late introductions.
Conclusion
Arsenal’s 2-0 win at Bilbao was built on patience, tactical flexibility, and excellent impact from the bench. Gabriel Martinelli stole the show with a goal within a minute of coming on and then assisting the second, while Leandro Trossard showed calm to finish the job. While the first half was cagey, the second half showed what Arsenal are capable of when Arteta’s substitutions click. This result offers a promising foundation for their European campaign.
