Why wouldn’t they? Arsenal triumphed at the San Mamés 2-0 over Athletic Club, that’s why not! That amazing statistics against Spanish clubs is still valid after the first game of the UEFA Champions League.
The visitors appeared to have the better of the opening exchanges, but their free-kick was disputably saved by Arconada, whilst David Raya was on his toes to stop an effort from Williams.
Gradually, Arsenal gained more control over the game, and Viktor Gyökeres was very close on two occasions before there was an interval. The first one, a left-footed strike, was comfortably taken by Unai Simón, while his diving header off Jurriën Timber’s delivery flew just wide. However, the break came with the scoreline still not being opened, in spite of the pressure.
The Athletic Club came close to goal right after the resumption, as Iñaki Williams forced Raya into his first clear save of the night. But at the end depth of Arsenal squad determined the result in their favor. Leandro Trossard, who was immediately on the pitch, did not let the opportunity slip.
He perfectly started the move for Gabriel Martinelli, who coolly put the ball under the goalkeeper’s legs, thus scoring the opening goal less than a minute after coming on. In fact, both joined for the last time just before the final whistle, but Martinelli was the one who passed the ball to Trossard who’s shot after the deflection went in for the winning goal.
Athletic were very good and it happened to them the hard way as it was the second defeated home in a row. Yet the Arsenal squad have kept their streak of European openers without loss, now at nine games, and they have a big Premier League clash with Manchester City to look forward to next.
