Arsenal Battles Past Athletic Club 2-0: Three Key Lessons From Their Gritty Victory

Arsenal had to battle hard for their 2-0 triumph against Athletic Club on Tuesday, with contributions from bench players Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard securing a positive opening to their Champions League journey.

The previous season's European semi-finalists neutralized each other during a lackluster opening period, with Viktor Gyökeres managing the sole shot on target in what was a balanced contest in Bilbao.

However, two instances of excellence determined the outcome in the latter half, as Arsenal attackers Martinelli and Trossard found the net after coming off the substitutes' bench to guide the Gunners to victory.

Here are three observations from a hard-fought match at San Mamés.

Impact Substitutes Save the Day

Arsenal anticipated being challenged throughout their initial European match of the campaign, with the hosts energized by an electrifying atmosphere at San Mamés. Their expectations were met by their opponents, who provided minimal attacking creativity but hindered the Gunners through their defensive structure.

For 70 minutes, it appeared Arsenal would have to settle for a disappointing draw from their Champions League debut, but two brilliant substitutions from Mikel Arteta shifted momentum in their direction during the final stages.

Martinelli found the net just 36 seconds after entering the game as he broke free from the Athletic defense and struck past Unai Simón from short range. This represented the type of crucial impact that had been missing from the Brazilian's performances in recent months, but he challenged summer acquisition Eberechi Eze with an outstanding goal and assist from the bench.

Trossard, who came on for Gyökeres after the hour mark, created Martinelli's opener with a clever touch and added a deflected second for Arsenal after being set up by his fellow substitute. The Belgian had been overlooked by many fans this season following summer transfer activity, but once more demonstrated his value with a significant contribution.

While it wasn't a classic attacking exhibition from the Gunners, they now possess the offensive options needed to win matches decided by narrow margins.

Noni Madueke Shines Once More

Arsenal found it difficult against the strength and intensity of Athletic's defense, but Noni Madueke was clearly their standout performer. After impressing against Nottingham Forest in their previous outing, the summer addition again quieted his critics with an energetic though somewhat raw display in Bilbao.

Madueke was frequently given sole responsibility for breaking down the Athletic defensive line and he demonstrated flashes of his pace, creativity and, crucially, attacking courage even during a sluggish first half at San Mamés. He troubled left-back Adama Boiro and represented the visitors' primary path to scoring opportunities.

Arsenal continued to rely on Madueke after halftime. He received regular service down Arsenal's right flank, where he started in place of the sidelined Bukayo Saka, and sought to create chances with each venture into the attacking zone—despite his end product occasionally falling short.

Madueke completed more successful dribbles than any other player on the field, registered 11 touches in the opposition penalty box and attempted three shots. He posed a persistent threat on an evening when Arsenal desperately needed individual excellence.

Defensive Solidity Continues

Arsenal's somewhat subdued attacking showing doesn't diminish what was another outstanding defensive performance from the Gunners. A further clean sheet against Athletic means they have recorded four shutouts from their five competitive fixtures this season, allowing just one goal to an unstoppable moment of brilliance from Dominik Szoboszlai in the loss to Liverpool.

Arteta deployed the same defensive lineup that began the weekend win over Forest, with each member of his backline functioning in perfect synchronization once more. David Raya was ready to deal with Athletic's infrequent attempts on goal, delivering another impressive showing alongside summer signing Cristhian Mosquera next to Gabriel at the center of defense.

Riccardo Calafiori performed admirably against the pace and aggression of Iñaki Williams, giving the Athletic striker minimal space to work with, while Jurriën Timber also produced a resolute defensive display alongside his regular and challenging runs into the attacking third.

Arsenal's remarkable defensive coordination will guarantee another extended Champions League campaign—and they still have William Saliba to reintegrate into the starting lineup.