UEFA Champions League League Stage - 1
Athletic Club 0 - 2 FT Arsenal
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Declan Rice 7'
HT
61' ↓ R. Navarro ↑U. Gomez
↓ V. Gyökeres ↑L. Trossard 65'
68' ↓ O. Sancet ↑G. Guruzeta
68' ↓ A. Boiro ↑Y. Berchiche
↓ E. Eze ↑G. Martinelli 71'
G. Martinelli (L. Trossard) 72'
81' ↓ Athletic Club ↑N. Serrano
81' ↓ M. Vesga ↑A. Rego
Noni Madueke 84'
85' Mikel Jauregizar
L. Trossard (G. Martinelli) 87'
Martín Zubimendi 90'+1
↓ R. Calafiori ↑P. Hincapie 90'+1
↓ N. Madueke ↑C. Norgaard 90'+1
FT
Player Cards
Season performance ratings for players in this match
Athletic Club
Goalkeepers
U. Simon 
NPC
90
Minutes
90
Minutes
15%
Pass Acc
6.2
Rating
Defenders
A. Gorosabel 
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
D. Vivian
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
2
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
A. Paredes
NPC
90
Minutes
90
Minutes
33%
Pass Acc
6.3
Rating
A. Boiro 
GHOST
16
Actions
16
Actions
68
Minutes
6.9
Rating
Midfielders
M. Jauregizar 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
43%
Duel Win %
M. Vesga
NPC
81
Minutes
81
Minutes
8%
Pass Acc
6.6
Rating
A. Berenguer
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
33%
Duel Win %
O. Sancet
NPC
68
Minutes
68
Minutes
18%
Pass Acc
6.9
Rating
R. Navarro 
SWEEPER
2
Cleanups
2
Cleanups
2
Interceptions
0
Blocks
Forwards
I. Williams
SWEEPER
1
Cleanups
1
Cleanups
1
Interceptions
0
Blocks
BENCH
A. Padilla 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
M. Santos
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
J. Areso 
CAMEO
0
Minutes
0
Minutes
0
Touches
None
Events
I. Lekue
CAMEO
0
Minutes
0
Minutes
0
Touches
None
Events
Y. Berchiche
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
J. De Luis
CAMEO
0
Minutes
0
Minutes
0
Touches
None
Events
I. Ruiz de Galarreta
CAMEO
0
Minutes
0
Minutes
0
Touches
None
Events
U. Gomez
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Rego
CAMEO
9
Minutes
9
Minutes
4
Touches
None
Events
G. Guruzeta
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Sannadi
CAMEO
0
Minutes
0
Minutes
0
Touches
None
Events
N. Serrano
CAMEO
9
Minutes
9
Minutes
2
Touches
None
Events
Arsenal
Goalkeepers
D. Raya
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
J. Timber 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
42%
Pass Acc
C. Mosquera 
MAGNET
92
Activity
92
Activity
79
Passes
13
Duels
Gabriel
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
83%
Duel Win %
R. Calafiori
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
82%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
M. Merino
NPC
90
Minutes
90
Minutes
21%
Pass Acc
6.3
Rating
M. Zubimendi
MAGNET
82
Activity
82
Activity
72
Passes
10
Duels
D. Rice
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
48%
Pass Acc
Forwards
N. Madueke
NPC
89
Minutes
89
Minutes
22%
Pass Acc
6.2
Rating
V. Gyökeres
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
E. Eze
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
58%
Duel Win %
BENCH
K. Arrizabalaga
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
T. Setford
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
W. Saliba
CAMEO
0
Minutes
0
Minutes
0
Touches
None
Events
P. Hincapie
CAMEO
1
Minutes
1
Minutes
1
Touches
None
Events
M. Lewis-Skelly
CAMEO
0
Minutes
0
Minutes
0
Touches
None
Events
C. Norgaard
CAMEO
1
Minutes
1
Minutes
4
Touches
None
Events
E. Nwaneri
CAMEO
0
Minutes
0
Minutes
0
Touches
None
Events
M. Dowman
CAMEO
0
Minutes
0
Minutes
0
Touches
None
Events
G. Martinelli 
SUPER SUB
0
Impact
0
Impact
19
Minutes
8.2
Rating
L. Trossard 
CLUTCH HERO
0
Goal Time
0
Goal Time
0
Impact
8.2
Rating
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09/08/2025 | Arsenal | 3 - 0 | Athletic Club | Emirates Cup | Emirates Stadium |
09/08/2025
Athletic Club Win
Arsenal Win
Draw
League Standings
League Standings
P: 7 GD: +18
P: 7 GD: +13
P: 7 GD: +11
P: 7 GD: +6
P: 7 GD: +8
P: 7 GD: +10
P: 7 GD: +10
P: 7 GD: +6
P: 7 GD: +5
P: 7 GD: +5
P: 7 GD: +4
P: 7 GD: +3
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: +6
P: 7 GD: +4
P: 7 GD: +4
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: -4
P: 7 GD: -6
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: -4
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -6
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: -4
P: 7 GD: -6
P: 7 GD: -10
P: 7 GD: -12
P: 7 GD: -9
P: 7 GD: -11
P: 7 GD: -10
AI-powered match analysis and previews to help you decide which games are worth watching
Trossard and Martinelli's Bench Brilliance Settles San Mamés Thriller
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 35/100. Arsenal's substitutes delivered a masterclass in Champions League precision, turning San Mamés into a fortress of red and white dominance.
The Substitute Strike Force Takes Centre Stage
When Arsenal sent Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli into the fray, the narrative shifted decisively. The pair orchestrated a lethal partnership that exposed Athletic Club's defensive vulnerabilities with surgical precision. Martinelli's 72nd-minute opener—a finish from Trossard's assist—broke the deadlock with the intensity of a team that knew exactly what was required. Fifteen minutes later, the roles reversed: Trossard's clinical finish, set up by Martinelli, sealed a 2-0 victory that never flattered Arsenal's dominance. The balance of power at San Mamés tilted irrevocably in the visitors' favour.
Arsenal's Possession Mastery Suffocates the Basques
The numbers tell a story of complete control. Arsenal's 62% possession translated into 490 passes—409 of them accurate—creating a suffocating web that Athletic Club simply couldn't penetrate. The home side managed just 38% of the ball, their 11 shots yielding only two on target. David Raya was rarely troubled in the Arsenal goal, making two comfortable saves as his team's defensive solidity proved as impressive as their attacking prowess. Athletic Club's 0.35 expected goals underlined their toothlessness; Arsenal's 1.28 xG reflected their ruthless efficiency.
The Turning Point: When Substitutes Became Executioners
The introduction of Trossard and Martinelli marked the moment the match's stakes were decided. Arsenal's patient build-up play—83% passing accuracy—created the platform for these two to deliver the knockout blows. Athletic Club never recovered from Martinelli's opener; the second goal was merely confirmation of a verdict already written. This wasn't an upset—it was a statement of intent from a side hungry to make noise in Europe's elite competition.
Key Questions
How decisive was Arsenal's substitute impact?
Trossard and Martinelli combined for both goals and an assist each. Their introduction transformed Arsenal's attack from threatening to lethal.
Did Athletic Club create genuine chances?
No. Only 2 of 11 shots found the target. Arsenal's possession and defensive discipline restricted the Basques to scraps.
What does this mean for Arsenal's European campaign?
A perfect start. Three points and a clean sheet signal Arsenal are serious contenders in the Champions League this season.
How is the Futmetrix Score calculated?
The Futmetrix Score (0-100) combines multiple factors: match intensity, competitive balance, stakes importance, and entertainment value to help you decide if this match is worth watching.
Continental Survival at Stake in Bilbao
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 8/100. Arsenal's relentless march toward direct top-eight qualification meets an Athletic side desperate to escape the bottom-dwellers of the league phase.
The Setup
San Mamés hosts a clash of extremes on September 16, 2025. Arsenal sit comfortably at the summit of the table with a flawless Form consisting of six wins from six matches, boasting a staggering +16 goal difference. In contrast, Athletic Club find themselves languishing in 28th position. For the hosts, this isn't just a match; it is a fight for their competitive life as they aim to claw back into the top-24 playoff spots. While the Gunners possess superior tactical Balance, the Basque side relies on the intimidating atmosphere of their home turf to bridge the quality gap.
Key Battle
The match will be decided by the clash between Arsenal's elite pressing unit and Athletic’s low-block defensive structure. Without individual stars highlighted, the narrative shifts to collective discipline. The Arsenal midfield will look to dictate the tempo and suffocate the hosts, while Athletic’s back line must endure 90 minutes of constant positional rotations. If the home side can survive the initial onslaught, they may find joy on the counter, but the statistical Stakes heavily favour the visitors' efficiency.
Our Prediction
Arsenal's technical Stars and recent momentum suggest a professional away performance. Expect the Gunners to monopolise possession and gradually break down a tiring Athletic defence. A goal in each half should secure a 0-2 victory for the London side, further cementing their status as tournament favourites while leaving Athletic in a precarious position.
Key Questions
Should I watch this match?
Yes. It is a classic David vs Goliath clash where Athletic must fight for their continental survival.
What's the predicted outcome?
A 2-0 win for Arsenal, driven by their superior tactical discipline and form.
Where are Athletic Club and Arsenal in the league table?
Arsenal are currently 1st with 18 points, while Athletic Club are 28th with 5 points.
What is Arsenal's current form?
Perfect. They have won all five of their most recent matches.
What does this mean for elimination?
Athletic risk falling out of playoff contention, while Arsenal can secure a top-8 spot.
How is the Futmetrix Score calculated?
The Futmetrix Score (0-100) combines multiple factors: match intensity, competitive balance, stakes importance, and entertainment value to help you decide if this match is worth watching.