Arsenal just did something in Europe which no other club can match

Arsenal's well-earned win in last night's Champions League opener against Athletic Club Bilbao was significant for another reason. The result makes Arsenal the first team to win six consecutive matches against Spanish opposition in the history of the Champions League and its predecessor the European Cup.

Two goals from the substitutes, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, handed Arsenal all three points in a competitive and attritional battle in Northern Spain.

Arteta's in-game management was more than vindicated. First, Martinelli latched on to Trossard's flick and ran 30 yards with the ball before calmly dispatching his shot under the keeper. Then, Martinelli returned the favour. After dribbling infield from the left, behind the full-back, the Brazilian pulled the ball back for an unmarked Trossard to stab home via a deflection.

Now that there is competition for places, all players know that when they get their chances to play, they must grab those opportunities with both hands.

With that win, Arsenal became the first team to win six consecutive matches against Spanish opposition, a winning sequence that began in October 2023.

Sevilla 1-2 Arsenal - 24th October 2023

Gabriel Martinelli, just as he did last night, gave Arsenal the lead at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán in Seville. Making his Champions League debut, Martinelli – in added time at the end of the first half –raced onto a brilliant pass from Gabriel Jesus before rounding the keeper to open the scoring.

Jesus followed that with an excellent goal of his own making, ten minutes into the second half. Just as it looked like he was out of options, the Brazilian cut in on his right foot and drilled a shot high into the top right hand corner of the net.

Arsenal were undone by a set-piece not long after but held on for a win that put them top of Group B.

Arsenal 2-0 Sevilla - 8th November 2023

Injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah meant that Leandro Trossard started in the number nine position. The Frenchman duly obliged with the opening goal after 28 minutes. Jorginho's defence-splitting pass picked out Bukayo Saka's run in behind the defence. Saka squared for Trossard to finish low into the centre of the goal.

Saka added one of his own midway through the second half when Martinelli's through ball sent him sprinting clear and into space. As the defence caught up with him, Saka turned inside and sent an unerring left footed shot low into the bottom left corner of the net.

This was a comfortable win for the Gunners that put them within a point of qualifying for the last 16.

Girona 1-2 Arsenal - 29th January 2025

Arsenal faced Spanish opposition in the innaugural league phase of the newly formatted competition. Virtually assured of a top eight finish before the match started, Arsenal went into this one nowing that a point would be enough.

Things didn't go to plan when in the 28th minute Arnaut Danjuma curled in a shot beyond Neto, who was standing in for the injured David Raya.

But the Gunners settled the matter before half-time with two goals in quick succession. First, in the 38th minute, Jorginho fired in a penalty. Then, Ethan Nwaneri cut in from the right and curled his effort into the bottom corner.

The result meant that Arsenal finished third in the league phase table, level on points with Barcelona and two behind Liverpool.

Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid - 8th April 2025

This Champions League encounter needs no introduction. It is of course last year's quarter-final first leg which saw Declan Rice score two world class free-kicks.

The first goal came in the 58th minute of a pulsating match at the Emirates. Rice curled his first effort around the three man wall with enough spin and power to beat Thibaut Courtois in the Madrid goal.

Just 12 minutes later, Rice repeated his party trick with a venomous drive into the top right hand corner as the wall parted like the red sea.

Mikel Merino's low drive from just inside the box capped off a great night that will live long in the memories of Gunners fans.

Real Madrid 1-2 Arsenal - 16th April 2025

On another memorable night, Arsenal finished the job off in style at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu.

After squandering a first-half chance to put Arsenal ahead from the penalty spot in the first half, Bukayo Saka made amends by giving his side the lead midway through the second half.

Although Vinícius Júnior equalised just a couple of minutes later, Martinelli's goal three minutes into added time was enough to send Arsenal through to the semi-finals against the eventual winners PSG.