Arsenal began their UEFA Champions League 2025/26 campaign with a 2-0 victory over Athletic Club at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao. Two second‑half substitutes, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, scored the goals that decided a match in which the Spanish side had posed real questions before Mikel Arteta’s changes tilted the balance.
Who won Athletic Club vs Arsenal? – Match Result and Final Score
Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
UEFA Champions League 2025/26 – Matchday 1
16 September 2025
San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao
- Arsenal’s substitutes Martinelli and Trossard made the decisive impact, highlighting squad depth.
- Athletic Club posed significant challenges despite the loss, indicating a competitive group stage.
- This was Arsenal’s first Champions League match of the 2025/26 season, securing an important away win.
- The result maintains Arsenal’s strong European form under Mikel Arteta.
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Final Score | Athletic Club 0 – 2 Arsenal |
| Goalscorers | Gabriel Martinelli (sub), Leandro Trossard (sub) |
| Assists (if known) | Not provided – pending official match report |
| Possession (approx) | Not provided |
| Shots on Target | Not provided |
| Yellow Cards | Not provided |
| Attendance | Not provided |
| Referee | Not provided |
What were the key moments and who scored for Arsenal?
The match was scoreless at half‑time. ESPN described the first half as relatively quiet, with Athletic’s first shot on target coming shortly before the hour mark. The game opened up after Arteta introduced Martinelli and Trossard around the 55th minute.
Gabriel Martinelli scored 36 seconds after coming on, receiving the ball and finishing to put Arsenal 1-0 up. Leandro Trossard added the second goal in the 82nd minute to seal the win. Both goals were scored by substitutes, underlining the impact of Arteta’s changes. A match‑analysis video on Arsenal’s win notes that the substitution of Martinelli for Eberechi Eze was immediately decisive.
Martinelli and Trossard were introduced together around the 55th minute. Martinelli’s goal came 36 seconds after he entered the pitch, making it one of the fastest goals by a substitute in this season’s competition so far.
Match Timeline
- Half‑time: Athletic Club 0-0 Arsenal
- Substitution: Martinelli and Trossard on for Arsenal
- Goal – Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) 0-1
- Goal – Leandro Trossard (Arsenal) 0-2
- Full‑time: Athletic Club 0-2 Arsenal
Where can I watch Athletic Club vs Arsenal highlights and replays?
Official match highlights are available on several platforms. UEFA’s official YouTube channel posted a highlights video of the game. The Arsenal official website also carries the match report, video highlights, and post‑match reaction. BBC Sport published a highlights clip showing both goals and the key moments.
Full replays of UEFA Champions League matches, including this fixture, are available on UEFA.tv (subscription may be required). The UEFA Match Centre offers live commentary, stats, and a timeline of events.
What were the lineups for Athletic Club vs Arsenal?
Official starting XIs are recorded on the UEFA match statistics page. While the exact lineups are not fully reproduced in the available summaries, it is known that Arsenal were without several regular starters. A separate match‑analysis video (source: the same YouTube analysis referenced above) explicitly notes the absence of Ødegaard, Saliba, Havertz, and Saka. Arteta started a rotated side and relied on substitutes to change the game.
Arsenal entered the match without Martin Ødegaard, William Saliba, Kai Havertz, and Bukayo Saka – four regular starters. The squad depth proved vital as the substitutes decided the match.
For Athletic Club, the lineup is not detailed in the provided sources. UEFA’s official match centre remains the definitive source for both team sheets.
How do Athletic Club and Arsenal compare historically? – Head‑to‑Head Record
According to the UEFA head‑to‑head history page, this was the first competitive meeting between Athletic Club and Arsenal. The result therefore sets the initial head‑to‑head record at one win for Arsenal and none for Athletic Club, with no draws.
Opta’s pre‑match preview gave Arsenal a 45.3% chance of victory, compared with 28.2% for Athletic Club and 26.5% for a draw, confirming that the outcome was within the expected probabilities. The same preview highlighted that this was the first encounter between the two sides in European competition.
What were the key details about the match date and kick‑off?
The match took place on 16 September 2025 at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao. The exact kick‑off time was not included in the available reports; the UEFA Match Centre lists the local time.
What is certain and what remains unclear about the match?
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Arsenal won 2-0 (confirmed by UEFA, Arsenal.com, and multiple sources). | Exact minute of each goal (timestamps vary between sources – check official UEFA timeline). |
| Goals scored by Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard (confirmed by video highlights and match reports). | Full lineup details (not available from initial summaries; need official team sheets). |
| Match played on 16 September 2025 at San Mamés. | Assists, possession, shots, cards, and other advanced stats (not available from given data). |
| Competition: UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Matchday 1. | The BBC title “Athletic Club 1-0 Arsenal” appears to be a likely error; all other sources confirm 2-0 Arsenal win. |
| Arsenal were without Ødegaard, Saliba, Havertz, Saka. | Post-match statements from managers or players. |
What does this result mean for Arsenal in the Champions League?
This was the opening fixture of the 2025/26 Champions League group stage for both teams. An away win gives Arsenal an early advantage in their group, with three points and a positive goal difference. Athletic Club, despite the loss, were competitive for large parts of the game and will look to recover in their next group fixture. The result also maintains Arsenal’s strong European form under Mikel Arteta, who has led the team to consistent progress in recent seasons.
Tactically, Arteta’s use of substitutes proved decisive. Martinelli and Trossard came on and changed the game with their pace and finishing. Arsenal had not conceded an open-play goal in five matches leading up to this fixture, underlining their defensive solidity (source: the YouTube analysis referenced above). The absence of several regular starters did not prevent the team from managing the match effectively.
BBC Sport’s video title read “Athletic Club 1-0 Arsenal”, but the video description correctly states that Arsenal won 2-0 with goals from Martinelli and Trossard. The title is likely a mistake; all other reputable sources confirm the 2-0 scoreline.
Sources and Quotations
“Full-time verdict: Arsenal win a keenly contested match in which the hosts posed significant challenges for Arteta’s side.”
– UEFA official match centre (link)
“Browse all the build up, action, reports and reaction from Athletic Club vs Arsenal, including match highlights video and post-match analysis.”
– Arsenal FC official website (link)
“Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard came off the bench to score as Arsenal beat Spanish side Athletic Club to get their Champions League campaign off to a winning start.”
– BBC Sport highlights (link)
Summary: What is the Athletic Club vs Arsenal prediction review?
Pre‑match predictions from Opta gave Arsenal a 45.3% chance of winning, which aligns with the actual result. The match unfolded as the favourites expected: Arsenal controlled possession after half‑time and capitalised on substitutions to break down a resilient Athletic Club defence. The victory confirms Arsenal’s status as a strong contender in the group stage, while Athletic Club showed enough to suggest they can trouble other opponents. For more football analysis, see our Leeds United vs West Ham Timeline – Complete Head-to-Head History and Man United vs Leicester City – H2H Stats, Highlights & Result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the head-to-head record between Athletic Club and Arsenal?
According to UEFA, the head-to-head history shows this was the first competitive meeting between the two clubs (source: UEFA head-to-head page).
Where can I watch the full match replay?
Official replays are available on UEFA.tv for UEFA Champions League matches. Highlights are available on the official YouTube channels of Arsenal and UEFA.
What time did the match kick off?
The exact kickoff time was not provided in the available reports. Check the UEFA Match Centre for local time.
Did any player receive a red card?
No red cards are mentioned in the available match summaries. The match appears to have been clean.
What does this result mean for Arsenal’s Champions League chances?
Winning the opening match away from home gives Arsenal a strong start in their group, improving their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.
Who was the man of the match?
Not officially confirmed. Likely candidates include Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard due to their goals.
What were the key tactical observations?
Arteta’s use of substitutes changed the game. Martinelli and Trossard added pace and finishing. Arsenal’s defence, which had not conceded an open-play goal in five matches, remained solid.
Where was the match played?
The match was played at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, Spain, home of Athletic Club.
Why did Arsenal miss several key players?
Arsenal were without Ødegaard, Saliba, Havertz, and Saka. The reasons (injuries, rest, or rotation) were not specified in the available sources.
How many goals did Arsenal score in the second half?
Arsenal scored two goals in the second half – both after the 60th minute – to secure the victory.
Henry Wallace is Managing Editor at RegionalReport.co.uk, running the daily news list, the regional publishing schedule and newsroom workflow.