Martinelli nets as Arsenal gets incredible win against Athletic Bilbao in Champions League opener

The Gunners beat their Spanish opponents 2-0 at the Estadio de San Mames on Tuesday night to make it a perfect start to their league phase campaign.

Second half substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard proved to be the difference after replacing Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres respectively.

Just 36 seconds after coming on, Martinelli latched onto a flick from Trossard where he raced clear on goal.

He then proceeded to squeeze the ball under Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon in the 72nd minute – scoring Arsenal’s fastest ever substitute goal in the Champions League.

And in the 87th minute, Martinelli returned the favour by teeing up the Belgian forward after great work down the byline.

Trossard swivelled in the box and found the back of the net with a deflected strike to seal a well-deserved three points.

In doing so, the two substitutes have become the first Arsenal players to assist each other’s goals as substitutes in the Champions League.

But more impressively, victory at Bilbao has seen Mikel Arteta’s side enter the record books in club football’s most prestigious competition.

Arsenal have become the first side in European Cup and Champions League history to win six consecutive matches against Spanish teams.

Source: talksports