By It was not a vintage attacking performance from Arsenal but they were superb defensively, particularly Cristhian Mosquera on His return to Spain, and Athletic Club barely had a sniff at goal.
The Home side had Arsenal pinned back for the opening period of the game, with Alejandro Berenguer causing particular problems for the Arsenal backline, Arsenal struggled to get hold of the game in the first half but did have the best chance of the opening 45 minutes when Viktor Gyokeres put a diving header wide from close range.
Gyokeres ended the match with a bandage around His head after a heavy clash of heads with Team Mate Gabriel, when the pair attempted to head the same ball goalwards.
The Gunners had been struggling to create a clear opening in the match before Mikel Arteta introduced Martinelli and Trossard in the second half.
Martinelli has had a difficult time in recent months, with a drop in form, and had started the last two games on the bench with new signing Eberechi Eze starting on the left wing, but will hope that the goal and assist will give Him the lift He needs.
Arsenal have invested about £250m in their squad this summer and that depth was again on show as Arteta had quality options to choose from on the bench.
It was not one of the best performances from Arteta’s side but, with three points and another clean sheet in the opening game, their Champions League campaign has started perfectly.
Mikel Arteta’s team may not be the most exciting but they certainly seem like a side built for a cup competition like this, Arsenal’s strength in depth won them the game in Bilbao with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard scoring and assisting the two late goals.
The performance was functional more than anything, Arsenal never really got going, it was simply the injection of pace from Martinelli that opened the game up for them.
Eberechi Eze had been playing on the left and struggled to affect the game on the wing for 70 minutes, He hasn’t quite made that role His own at Arsenal just yet.
Perhaps it will take Him time to adapt to His new surroundings, but surely there will be a temptation for Mikel Arteta to give Him a chance as the No 10, His natural position.
Eze’s creativity might just help Arsenal in breaking teams down when they are in tight games like this one tonight.
Arsenal take all three points in gameweek one of the Champions League league phase, late goals from substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard enough despite a less than impressive performance.
Mikel Arteta won’t care one jot about that though as His team come away from a tough away trip with the victory and a clean sheet.
