Athletic Bilbao Vs Arsenal Highlights, UEFA Champions League: Super-Subs Martinelli, Trossard Lead Gunners To 2-0 Win

Hello, we’re back with another live blog: Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal, UEFA Champions League 2025-26. Stay tuned for live updates.

The Athletic Club vs Arsenal UEFA Champions League match will be shown on Sony Sports Network, which is the official broadcaster of the tournament in India.

This marks the first competitive meeting between the two clubs, but Bilbao were no match against Arsenal in their pre-season Emirates Cup friendly earlier this summer, losing 0-3.

Should Arsenal win tonight, they will become the first team to beat Spanish teams six games in a row in the Champions League. Since 2023, the Gunners have defeated both Real Madrid and Sevilla twice, and Girona once in this run.

And we are underway at San Mames! Arsenal get us rolling, Viktor Gyokeres leading the charge in that striking blue-and-white kit. The home side, Athletic Bilbao, look sharp in their classic red-and-white stripes with black shorts. First touches, first passes, the game is alive, and the crowd is buzzing.

Just two minutes in, and the Bilbao fans are already letting their displeasure be known. Arsenal are keeping things tight at the back, David Raya calmly orchestrating from goal while the defenders shuffle the ball around at a pace slower than a Sunday stroll.

The hosts are itching for a chance to pounce, and you can feel the tension building in the stands.

CLOSE CALL! Adama Boiro lashes a shot after Alex Berenguer tees it up across the box, but it cannonballs off a teammate in red and white. That one was heading straight for David Raya, what a let-off for the Gunners.

Slow burn so far at San Mamés, not much excitement on the pitch yet. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Europe, a nod to Union St Gilloise’s Promise David, who opens the scoring in this season’s Champions League proper with a cool penalty against PSV Eindhoven. Always good to keep an eye on the goals happening across the continent.

Around the 18th and 19th minutes, Arsenal are feeling the pressure. Viktor Gyökeres gave away a foul, and moments later, Mikel Merino is caught for a handball, handing Bilbao a promising set-piece. The Gunners are being tested early, and the Lions are sniffing an opportunity to make their presence felt.

Close but no cigar! Viktor Gyokeres rises for a header right in the heart of the box, but it sails over the bar. Arsenal came close to breaking the deadlock, but the goal still eludes them.

Around the half-hour mark, play was brought to a temporary halt as Viktor Gyokeres went down with an injury, forcing both teams to take a breather. By the 34th minute, the delay was over, and the players were back on the pitch, ready to get the action flowing again.

Declan Rice gets whistled for a foul on Gorosabel, though the full-back looked to have made the most of it, tumbling rather theatrically. The San Mames crowd roared, hoping for a second yellow, but the referee isn’t buying the act. Cheeky play from the Lions, and a nervous moment for the Gunners.

Noni Madueke pulls the trigger from the edge of the area after some smart link-up from Mikel Merino, but his strike is charged down by the Athletic defence. Arsenal knocking, but the Lions hold firm.

Half-time at San Mamés! The last action saw Athletic earn a corner when Declan Rice blocked Navarro’s shot, but Alex Berenguer’s delivery was nodded harmlessly over by Oihan Sancet. The whistle blows, no goals yet, but plenty of tension as the Lions and the Gunners head into the break all square.

The second half kicks off at San Mames! After a first half that won’t be making any highlight reels, here’s hoping the tempo rises and we finally get some fireworks from the Lions and the Gunners.

What a move from the Gunners! Arsenal spring into life on the counter after a scare at the other end. Mikel Merino threads a sharp ball into Viktor Gyokeres, who cushions it perfectly for Noni Madueke darting into the box.

The winger glides forward and tries a cheeky outside-of-the-boot pass back across goal, but it’s too close to Unai Simón. The Athletic keeper reads it well and gathers with ease, but that was Arsenal’s slickest attack so far.

First change of the night for the Lions. Robert Navarro makes way, and on comes Unai Gómez to freshen things up in midfield for Athletic. The home crowd give Navarro a warm send-off as the tempo of this contest edges up.

Leandro Trossard is now leading the line for Arsenal, stepping into the striker’s role after Gyökeres’ knock earlier in the game. The Swede looked alright at the time, but perhaps that first-half clash is still lingering. Trossard, meanwhile, will be eager to make his mark up top.

And after a lot of grinding and fighting, Arsenal finally break the deadlock at San Mamés! Fresh off the bench, Gabriel Martinelli makes an instant impact, darting onto a clever ball from fellow sub Leandro Trossard. The Brazilian keeps his cool and smashes it past Unai Simón, the Gunners’ patience pays off, and the away end erupts.

Another pause in the action as Unai Gómez and Mikel Merino accidentally bang heads. Both players are down getting treatment, and San Mames holds its breath while the medics rush on. It’s been a bruising, stop-start kind of night so far.

It’s raining goals from the Arsenal bench. After Martinelli’s instant impact, Leandro Trossard steps up and makes it two. The Belgian lets fly, his shot taking a wicked deflection before nestling into the net. The Lions protest, claiming a foul in the build-up, but the referee isn’t budging.

The Gunners are cruising now, two goals clear and looking firmly on course for all three points at San Mames.

The super-subs are running the show. First Martinelli made his mark, and now Leandro Trossard joins the party with Arsenal’s second. His strike takes a big deflection on the way through, leaving Unai Simon helpless.

Athletic players appeal for a foul in the build-up, but the referee waves them away. The Gunners are two up and looking in control at San Mames.

Tempers flare late on as Martin Zubimendi goes into the referee’s book. A yellow card for the Arsenal man, and the Gunners will need to keep their cool to see this one out.

That’s a wrap from San Mames. What a night for Arsenal, and the super-subs stole the show. We’ll be back with more live blogs soon, until then, bye-bye.