By Phil Haigh

Copyright metro

Gabriel Martinelli came off the bench to score Arsenal’s first (Picture: Getty Images)

Arsenal got their Champions League campaign off to a good start with a 2-0 win at Athletic Club on Tuesday night.

It was a tricky opening test for Mikel Arteta’s side in Bilbao, with the San Mames producing a brilliant atmosphere to welcome the Premier League side.

The home team responded to the efforts of their fans by working extremely hard and putting the Gunners under pressure in the first half.

Arsenal were dominating possession but doing nothing with it and Athletic Club were making things difficult for them, although also failing to create chances.

The stalemate continued into the second half but it was Arteta’s substitutes who made the difference and very quickly.

Leandro Trossard flicked the ball over the top for the onrushing Gabriel Martinelli, who finished calmly past Unai Simon on 72 minutes.

With three minutes left of the 90 the two substitutes combined again, this time with a burst down the left from Martinelli, before he set up Trossard, whose deflected shot found the back of the net.

Player Ratings

David Raya – 7

David Raya had yet another solid performance for Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images)

Did not have loads to do really, but will be pleased to be heading back to London with a clean sheet and a solid start to the Champions League campaign.

Jurrien Timber – 8

The Dutchman has been really impressive at right-back of late and continued to be so both defensively and going forward. Quick, powerful and looking like he has made the position his own with Ben White out injured.

Gabriel – 8

Gabriel put in another commanding display (Picture: Getty Images)

Without his regular partner at centre-back, Gabriel remained as good as ever at the heart of Arsenal’s defence. Athletic Club did have a period of pressure in the first half and the commanding defender was well placed to nip attacks in the bud.

Cristhian Mosquera – 8

An injury for William Saliba at Liverpool looked like it could have been a real problem for Arteta, but Mosquera has stepped in brilliantly. The 21-year-old has slotted in alongside Gabriel with such little fuss that you would think he is far more experienced than he is.

Riccardo Calafiori – 7

Less dynamic than his teammate on the other side of defence, but put in a good shift at left-back nonetheless. The Arsenal defence is formidable and the four of them restricted the home team to no real clear-cut chances.

Martin Zubimendi – 6

Ticks over in midfield well enough, without really catching the eye, but was in the right place at the right time more than once to snuff out Athletic Club attacks.

Declan Rice – 6

Declan Rice rarely has a poor game for Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images)

The England midfielder was shown a yellow card after just seven minutes, so he did well to stay disciplined from there on in as he played the full 90. Always industrious, a steady enough display.

Mikel Merino – 6

He was probably the one of the three in the middle of midfield tasked with adding a bit more of attacking threat and he didn’t really provide much of that. The three together did a good job of stifling creativity from the home team, though.

Noni Madueke – 6.5

Noni Madueke was causing Athletic Club headaches on the right wing (Picture: Getty Images)

Madueke has been a slightly tricky one to judge because he was consistently Arsenal’s most dangerous player, by far. However, his end product is still lacking as the positions he regularly got into never actually amounted to anything. His full-back will have not enjoyed the night though.

Eberechi Eze – 3

It has been a fairly slow start to the Arsenal career of Eberechi Eze and that continued on Tuesday night as he did little of note. Out on the left wing does not seem to suit the England international, who is struggling to make an impact from the flank. Replaced by Gabriel Martinelli, who did make an impact.

Viktor Gyokeres – 4

Summer signing Viktor Gyokeres struggled to make an impact for Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images)

Works very hard and is something of a physical presence up front, but struggled to pose much of a threat. He did have opportunities, be it when he was put in down the left channel in the first half, or a couple of headed chances, but he could not produce convincing efforts on goal. Replaced just after the hour mark.

Substitutes

Arteta’s substitutes combine as Trossard doubles Arsenal’s lead assisted by Martinelli 👏📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/8C4H3LfaYt— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 16, 2025

Leandro Trossard – 9

Came on for Gyokeres to play up top and made a brilliant impact. He set up Martinelli’s goal impressively and then got a bit lucky with his goal, but still found the back of the net.

Gabriel Martinelli – 9

Came on for Eze on 71 minutes and scored 36 seconds later, proving more of a threat than the man he replaced or Gyokeres. He did really well to set up Trossard for his goal as well. Two near-perfect cameos from the substitutes.

Christian Norgaard – replaced Madueke late on

Piero Hincapie – replaced Calafiori late on