Arsenal start quest for first-ever Champions League title with comfortable win over Athletic Club

Gabriel Martinelli needed only 36 seconds after coming off the bench to score for Arsenal as the Gunners beat Athletic Club in Bilbao.

The Brazilian was joined on the scoresheet by Leandro Trossard as the Gunners beat Athletic Club 2-0 to start off their Champions League on a high.

Athletic started brightly, with Adama Boiro’s free-kick blocked, but they struggled to seriously trouble David Raya.

The Gunners grew into the contest, and Viktor Gyökeres twice threatened, first forcing Unai Simón into a routine save before heading wide from Jurriën Timber’s delivery.

Despite their pressure, the visitors went into half-time frustrated with the score still level.

After the break, Arsenal continued to push, as Gyökeres headed Declan Rice’s free-kick wide and Noni Madueke’s cross-shot tested Simón again.

Athletic responded, with Iñaki Williams calling Raya into action for the first time, though his effort lacked power.

The deadlock was eventually broken by Arsenal’s bench strength, as Leandro Trossard slipped Gabriel Martinelli through to finish neatly under Simón less than a minute after entering the field.

Moments later, the pair combined once more, this time with Martinelli providing the assist for Trossard, whose deflected strike sealed the win.

The result was harsh on Athletic, now nursing consecutive home defeats, while Arsenal stretched their unbeaten run in opening European fixtures to nine and turn their attention to a Premier League clash with Manchester City.