MIKEL ARTETA claimed he KNEW Gabriel Martinelli would be Arsenal’s saviour off the bench to snatch a late Champions League victory.
Martinelli scored in the 72nd minute with only his FOURTH touch and just 36 SECONDS after being subbed on to down a stubborn Athletic Bilbao in their Euro opener.
Another sub, Leandro Trossard, grabbed the second in the 87th minute with Arteta admitting it “hurts” him to leave out top players with such a competitive squad.
He said: “I looked on the bench, I looked at him, and in his eyes I could see that [Martinelli] was ready, Leo as well.
“That’s going to help us a lot for the future, it is going to dictate the quality of our season. The finishers are going to be more important this year than the starters. I love it.
“That’s the attitude I need from all of us. It’s always very difficult emotionally to leave players out. I know how much they want to play in this competition and what it means to them.
“Every time you do a line-up, you are disappointing a lot of players. It hurts me.”
Martinelli’s future at Arsenal under Arteta has been questioned with the Brazilian falling out of favour and suffering a drop in form, starting just two games so far this term.
Trossard has also been linked with a move away from the club, without a start this campaign and playing just 48 minutes of football before coming on at Bilbao.
Arteta appears to favour new-boys Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke as starters, with injured Bukayo Saka also set to come back into the frame in the coming weeks.
Arteta continued: “They know how I feel about them. The only thing I can do is my job.
“I have to make decisions and I have to make decisions based on increasing the probability of winning football matches.
“They know that that’s the only reason why I’m going to make certain decisions. Sometimes right, sometimes wrong, and they have to stay like that.
“And they know that if we want to maintain a certain standard, they are very responsible, not only during matches, but in training sessions, the atmosphere they create and how much they care for each other.
“So all those things are going to be very critical, and all of them are going to play for sure.”
Injured Gabriel Jesus watching from home reacted to compatriot Martinelli’s goal on Instagram with the caption: “Good one brother, way too deserving”.
Arteta added: “Fully deserved it. I adore Gabriel.
“His attitude, his commitment, his positivity, what he’s willing to do for the team. As a family, we certainly value all the qualities that he has, and he brings to the team.”
Arsenal have become the first side in European Cup/Champions League history to win six consecutive matches against Spanish sides.
But for large periods, it did not look that way, and there were injury scares for Viktor Gyokeres and Mikel Merino.
Swedish striker Gyokeres suffered a nasty cut on the back of his head after a collision with team-mate Gabriel in the first half, and needed to have blood cleaned up before wearing a bandage.
Merino also has a cut on the top of his head after competing for a header late in the match.
Both will now have to be patched up and potentially have stitches if they are to face Manchester City on Sunday at the Emirates.
Arsenal ratings vs Athletic Club
ARSENAL’S second-half substitutes inspired a winning start to their Champions League campaign after a lack of creativity in the first 45 minutes.
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard came off the bench to both pick up a goal and an assist and bank Arsenal’s first thee points in the league phase.
Mikel Arteta had to turn to his substitutes after his side lacked creativity without the likes of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard available.
Champions League debutants Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke were unable to make it a night to remember on a personal level.
But how did Arteta’s group get on?
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