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.
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FBL-EUR-C1-ATHLETIC BILBAO-ARSENAL | ANDER GILLENEA/GettyImages
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Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli
Athletic Club v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 | David Ramos/GettyImages

Strength in depth proves decisive

The Gunners' bench won them the game here, and with an emphasis on raising the floor of the team this summer, Arteta just saw the benefits of that.

Martinelli and Trossard scored off the bench, but William Saliba, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Max Dowman, Christian Norgaard, and Ethan Nwaneri were all on the bench, too.

Strength in depth? You better believe it.

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