Semi-finalist of the competition last season, Arsenal was attacking the Champions League on Tuesday with five recruits at the start, on the lawn of the Athletic Bilbao.
Mikel Arteta wanted to strengthen the workforce of the Gunners, and the “new” had the powder talks last weekend against Nottingham Forest (3-0) with a double for Martin Zubimendi and a goal for the gunner Viktor Gyökeres.
Trossard-Martinelli, immediate impact
In the Basque earth, the triple vice-champion of England in rank began with a New-Look trio, with Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze around Gyökeres. Despite this, and despite the injuries that decimate the London workforce (Saka, Odegaard, Havertz, White …), Arsenal took advantage of the richness of its bench to make the difference.
Entered in place of Gyökeres (65th) and Eze (71st), quite disappointing, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard were quick to find the fault. First by the Brazilian on an opening of the Belgian (1-0, 72nd), then thanks to the unofficial lookalike of Clément Turpin, on a service of his friend Auriverde, who returned the same (2-0, 87th).
Arsenal therefore begins its European season well, and launches perfectly a week which will conclude with a XXL shock against Manchester City, Sunday, in the Premier League.
