Stats reveal the story behind Arsenal’s Bilbao win | OneFootball

A commanding display in possession, duels, and big chances underlined a maturity in Mikel Arteta’s side that stretched far beyond the 2-0 scoreline.

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At San Mamés, Arsenal opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory that was as much about resilience as it was about attacking depth. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard decided the contest, but the numbers behind the performance tell the fuller story of how Mikel Arteta’s side imposed themselves on difficult ground.

Possession was weighted heavily in Arsenal’s favour, 62 to 38 per cent, and that control translated into higher quality chances. Athletic managed only 0.35 expected goals, compared with Arsenal’s 1.28. The Basques did not fashion a single big chance, while Arsenal carved out three, missing two before Martinelli broke the deadlock.

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The shooting tally ended level at 11 apiece, but Arsenal found the target six times to Athletic’s two. The spread of shots was also revealing: nine of Arsenal’s efforts came inside the box, compared with just six from their hosts.

Passing also underlined the contrast. Arsenal completed 409 of 490 attempted passes at 83 per cent accuracy, while Athletic completed 224 from 303 at 74 per cent. Declan Rice and Martín Zubimendi set the tempo in midfield, with Arsenal registering 153 passes in the opposition half compared with Athletic’s collective 100.

Physically, too, Arsenal held their ground. They won 62 duels to Athletic’s 44, including a 62 per cent success rate in the air. Cristhian Mosquera and Gabriel were central to that defensive dominance, clearing 16 balls between them and ensuring David Raya had only two saves to make.

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The impact of substitutes was stark in both the numbers and the scoreline. Martinelli’s cameo yielded a goal and an assist inside 19 minutes, his expected goal tally of 0.58 the highest of any player on the pitch. Trossard matched him for direct output, scoring once and setting up Martinelli’s opener, all in 25 minutes.

Discipline was tested, with 33 fouls committed across the match and four yellow cards for Arsenal and, remarkably, none for the hosts who hauled and wrestled like it was rugby without once going into the book.

This was Arsenal’s first competitive meeting with Athletic Club, against a side that finished last season with La Liga’s best defensive record.

To emerge with three points, a clean sheet and dominance across the key statistical markers was a statement. More than just a win, it was evidence of a side equipped to manage the grind of European nights on top of a Premier League challenge.