Arsenal super-subs sink Athletic Club
Arsenal opened its Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over Athletic Club, as Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard's second-half strikes proved to be the difference.
In a game with few clear chances, second-half substitutes Martinelli and Trossard came up with the goods late on, earning the Gunners a hard-fought three points on the road.
While the undefeated LaLiga club started the more brightly at San Mames, it was Arsenal that was presented with the best opportunity of the first half when Viktor Gyokeres met Jurrien Timber's precise cross with a diving header in the 30th minute, but the ball sailed just wide.
That was one of just four Arsenal shots in the first half, its lowest total in the opening 45 minutes of a game since last December.
When Mikel Arteta turned to his bench to make an impact, the substitutes duly obliged.
Martinelli opened the scoring after an intricate flick from Trossard set him free from the halfway line, with the Brazilian slotting past Unai Simon in the 72nd minute, just 36 seconds after coming on.
In the 87th minute, Martinelli repaid the favour, assisting Trossard by cutting the ball back from the byline, with the Belgian's subsequent strike taking a fortuitous deflection over a helpless Simon.
Even though it was the super-subs who made the difference, Declan Rice was at the centre for the Gunners once again as he registered the most chances created of any other player (three), and joint-most passes in the final third (15).
