Martinelli, Trossard Hand Arsenal Perfect Champions League Start In Bilbao

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard came off the bench and combined well to give Arsenal a 2-0 win over Athletic Club in their Champions League opener in Bilbao on Tuesday.

Martinelli scored just 36 seconds after coming on as a replacement for Eberechi Eze when he raced on to fellow sub Leandro Trossard’s ball over the top.

The Brazilian took one touch with his head, and then two further touches at speed, before firing under the body of goalkeeper Unai Simón with 18 minutes remaining.

Then, with three minutes to go, Martinelli turned provider when he pulled the ball back for Trossard, whose shot at goal flicked off the upright and into the net.

It has been 132 days since Arsenal were eliminated by Paris Saint-German in the semi-finals, and Mikel Arteta’s players began their bid to win the Champions League for the first time at a hostile San Mames Stadium.

With Arsenal armed with eight new players for this season’s competition — with five of them starting in Tuesday game — Atletico Club manager Ernesto Valverde said on the eve of Tuesday’s fixture that the Gunners must be considered as one of the favourites to win the title.

The home side, themselves back in the big time after a decade away, enjoyed an encouraging opening before Noni Madueke, occupying the right side in the continued absence of Bukayo Saka, started to cause them bother.

Eze looked set to capitalise on Madueke’s cutback midway through the first half only for a last-ditch sliding tackle from Andoni Gorosabel to deny the former Crystal Palace man.