Arsenal opened their 2025/26 Champions League campaign with a 2-0 away win at San Mamés against Athletic Bilbao. Second-half goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard secured three points for Mikel Arteta’s side in their group stage debut.
Arsenal Dominate but Waste Chances Early
The Gunners started aggressively, pinning Bilbao deep. In the 20th minute, Noni Madueke’s cross almost found Michael Olise, but Andoni Gorosabel intervened at the last moment.
Arsenal kept pressing:
- Viktor Gyökeres squandered two golden chances (23’ and 26’), first with a weak shot against Unai Simón, then with a header off target.
- Just before halftime, Bilbao responded through Álex Berenguer, who fired narrowly wide after good work from Adama Boiro.
Martinelli Breaks the Deadlock
After the restart, Arsenal piled on pressure again. Declan Rice’s free kick found Gyökeres, but the Swede’s header missed the mark. Soon after, Madueke forced a sharp save from Simón.
Bilbao’s best chance came through captain Iñaki Williams, whose counterattack ended with a tame effort straight at David Raya.
Arteta’s substitutions proved decisive. In the 70th minute, Gabriel Martinelli replaced Eberechi Eze, and within a minute the Brazilian scored. Released by Trossard, he calmly slotted past Simón to give Arsenal a deserved lead.
Trossard Seals the Win
Arsenal kept pressing for a second. In the 86th minute, Martinelli returned the favor, crossing from the left for Trossard, who struck first time off the bar and into the net. The Belgian’s goal sealed a confident 2-0 away victory.
What’s Next
- Arsenal: return to London to host Olympiacos at the Emirates on October 1st.
- Athletic Bilbao: face a tough trip to Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park, also on October 1st.
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Thiago Nuno is a football editor and analyst covering European leagues, match statistics, and transfer market trends.
