Arsenal secured a victory over Athletic Club in the opening match of this season’s Champions League, and Mikel Arteta will share his thoughts on the win following Gabriel Martinelli’s standout performance.
Arteta spoke to the media after Arsenal’s 2-0 triumph in their Champions League debut.
All attention was on the Gunners as they began their European journey, especially after last season’s semi-final loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
The first half was rather lackluster, but Arteta made bold changes in the second half, with two substitutions making an immediate impact. Gabriel Martinelli scored just 36 seconds after coming on, then assisted fellow substitute Leandro Trossard to seal the victory.
This important win was exactly what Arsenal needed to start their campaign strongly. You can catch all of Arteta’s insights and more from football.london’s lead Arsenal writer Tom Canton in the live blog below.
On the emotional aspect:
“I think the players understand that leaving someone out of the starting lineup is tough for me. My decisions are always about increasing our chances of winning. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. But if we want to maintain high standards, the players have to accept that.”
On taking credit for the substitutions:
“I’m very pleased because these decisions are emotionally challenging. I know how much the players want to participate in this competition. There’s always disappointment when the lineup is announced, but they play with confidence and unity.”
On the goal:
“I was confident Gabby would react that way—he’s always eager to improve.”
On Martinelli and team dynamics:
“They respect the way Gabby works and value his ability to connect with them.”
On the match:
“What a fantastic stadium to play in. For 20 to 25 minutes, the intensity and directness were remarkable. The substitutes came on and made the difference.”
On the win:
“That was thrilling! The first half wasn’t great, but Arsenal stepped up in the second. Credit to Mikel Arteta for his impactful substitutions. We’ll hear more from the manager about this vital victory soon.”
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