Mikel Arteta: I adore him | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta could not disguise his admiration for Gabriel Martinelli after the Brazilian transformed Arsenal’s Champions League opener at San Mamés with a goal and an assist in little more than 15 minutes on the pitch.

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Introduced in the 71st minute, Martinelli needed only 36 seconds to make the decisive breakthrough, racing clear and finishing beneath Unai Simón to silence Athletic Club’s home crowd.

He then turned provider in the closing stages, squaring for Leandro Trossard to seal a 2-0 win.

“He fully deserved it. I adore Gabriel: his attitude, his commitment, his positivity, what he’s willing to do for the team,” Arteta told reporters afterwards.

“I was sure that Gabby was going to react like that. He has such a mentality. He’s constantly willing to learn, very demanding with himself and hopefully that gives him the confidence again. I looked on the bench, I looked at him, and in his eyes I could see that he was ready. Leo as well.”

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Arteta has stressed repeatedly that Arsenal’s substitutes, or “finishers” as he now calls them, will be central to sustaining a challenge on multiple fronts this season. “That shows that they are at least equally important or more important as anyone in this squad. That the finishers are going to be more important this season than the starters,” he added.

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The reaction of Martinelli’s team-mates underlined that spirit. “That’s the spirit. The way they look after each other is genuine, they really want the best for each other,” Arteta said.

“It’s always very difficult emotionally to leave players out. I know how much they want to play this competition and every time you do the lineup you are disappointing a lot of players. I have to make decisions based on increasing the probability of winning football matches. Sometimes right, sometimes wrong.”

The win, Arsenal’s first competitive meeting with Athletic Club, came in testing circumstances. Arteta was without seven senior players but still able to turn to international-calibre options from the bench. For the manager, that fact alone vindicates a summer of heavy investment.

Five matches into the season, Arsenal have conceded only once.