Key stats
- Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are the first pair for Arsenal to assist each other's goals as substitutes in the UEFA Champions League
- Athletic Club are the first Spanish side to start a Champions League game with 11 players who have never played Champions League football before since Real Madrid in September 1995
- Since his debut for Arsenal in January 2023, Leandro Trossard has more goal involvements as a substitute than any other Premier League player across all competitions (14 - 10 goals, four assists)
Analysis
Eberechi Eze made his Champions League debut, playing predominantly down the left flank for Arsenal.
Most of Arsenal's attacking threat came down the right-hand side.
Highlights
Match report
The hosts started strongly but could not test David Raya, with Adama Boiro going closest as his goalbound free-kick was blocked. Arsenal started to gain control as the half progressed, though, and Viktor Gyökeres had two chances to score.
The first produced the half’s only shot on target, as he ran in behind before striking with his weaker left foot, but Unai Simón saved comfortably.
The second was a diving header that flashed wide from Jurriën Timber’s cross, yet the Gunners could not convert as the game remained goalless at HT.
Nevertheless, Arsenal continued to probe in the second half as Gyökeres headed Declan Rice’s free-kick wide at the back post, before Noni Madueke ran in behind and saw his cross-come-shot beaten away by Simón.
It was then Athletic’s turn to attack as Iñaki Williams forced Raya into his first save just before the hour mark with an albeit tame effort.
Ultimately, the visitors had the firepower on the bench to swing the game in their favour, and two substitutes combined for the breakthrough.
Leandro Trossard fed Gabriel Martinelli, who ran through on goal and finished under Simón less than a minute after coming on.
The same two players then combined again to seal the points, as Martinelli found Trossard before the Belgium international fired a deflected strike into the back of the net.
It was cruel on Athletic, who have now suffered successive home defeats, while Arsenal stretched an unbeaten record of opening European matches to nine.
They will now look ahead to the weekend’s Premier League fixture with Manchester City as they look to battle on four fronts.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
Post-match comments
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, during his press conference:
"We started to grow throughout the game. In the second half, we were more fluent, dominant, and the finishers made the impact for us to win the game.
"(The substitutes) are at least equally important, if not more important.
"We have discussed that - the finishers are going to be more important this season sometimes than the starters, and we can change the game then, when teams start to drop off."