Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal - 3 takeaways as Gunners begin UCL in style

The Gunners got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start.

Arsenal got its Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win thanks to second-half goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard as Mikel Arteta's side put away a plucky Athletic Bilbao team after a tough encounter.

The Gunners' depth was the key here as Mikel Arteta swung two changes in the second-half looking to break the deadlock, and it was Martinelli, who was on the pitch for barely a minute as he latched onto Viktor Gyokeres' flick at the halfway line, and took it under control and raced away from his defender to cooly slot the opener on 72 minutes.

Martinelli then turned provider as he teed up Trossard with three minutes left in normal time and the Belgian took a touch before finishing a fine move to guarantee all three points.

3 takeaways from Arsenal's 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao

Martinelli needed that

Goodness me didn't Gabby need that?

After a summer that has seen him mentioned as a possible transfer target for other clubs and his status in the first team in doubt due to the signing of Eberechi Eze, Martinelli had 20 or so minutes to make an impact...and he did.

His well-taken goal was just what the doctor ordered as it gave the Gunners the lead, and then his assist for Trossard was neatly worked.

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