Sports
Arsenal subs snatch win in Bilbao Champions League opener | The Express Tribune
BILBAO:
Arsenal substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard pounced in the final stages to secure a 2-0 victory at Athletic Bilbao in their Champions League opener on Tuesday.
Last season’s beaten semi-finalists got off to a winning start in the Basque country as they shaded a tight game at the San Mames stadium in the first of eight group matches.
Mikel Arteta’s side, chasing a first major trophy since 2020 and their first ever Champions League win, ground out their victory with a typically sturdy defensive display and their late goals.
Martinelli scored in the 72nd minute, 36 seconds after coming off the bench, before Trossard added a second after 87 minutes, each setting the other up.
“We started to grow throughout the game. In the second half we were more fluent, dominant, and the finishers made the impact for us to win the game,” Arteta told reporters.
“(The substitutes) are at least equally important, if not more important.”
“We have discussed that — the finishers are going to be more important this season sometimes than the starters, and we can change the game then, when teams start to drop off.”
Athletic, back in the competition for the first time in 11 years, were on top in the early stages, buoyed by boisterous home support.
Their coach Ernesto Valverde lined up with an entire team of players making their Champions League debut, including talisman striker Inaki Williams but not his injured brother Nico Williams.
Arsenal started with four Spaniards, including two Basque midfielders in Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi, who used to play for Athletic’s rivals Real Sociedad.
The Gunners, missing several regulars including Bukayo Saka, began to turn the tide through the movement of Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke’s persistence on the right wing.
Swedish striker Gyokeres had an effort saved by Unai Simon and then headed narrowly wide of the post after reaching a dangerous cross by Jurrien Timber.
Alejandro Berenguer pulled a shot wide of the far post with Athletic’s first real chance shortly before the break.
Gyokeres, sporting a bandage after a clash of heads left him bleeding, nodded Declan Rice’s free-kick wide when well placed.
Williams was denied by David Raya and Merino headed straight at Simon at the other end as the match stepped up a gear.
– ‘Fully deserves it’ –
Arteta, who hails from the Basque country, was praised as one of the best coaches in the world by his counterpart Valverde and proved it with substitutions which changed the game decisively to ensure a happy return to home soil.
The Spaniard brought on Martinelli for the ineffective Eberechi Eze and immediately found the goal Arsenal craved as the Gunners countered at pace.
Martinelli ran on to Trossard’s pass, took a fine touch to leave Andoni Gorosabel trailing in his wake and then fired under Simon.
The Brazilian was involved again in the second, cutting the ball back for Trossard, who beat Simon with the help of a deflection.
“(Martinelli) fully deserves it,” said Arteta. “I adore Gabi, his attitude, his commitment, his positivity and what he’s willing to do for the team.”
“We value all the qualities he has and what he brings to the team and I’m so happy that today he decided the game for us in two actions.”
“These are the moments that are hopefully going to give him the confidence (he needs).”
Arsenal reinforced heavily in the summer to increase their squad depth, particularly in attack, and it paid dividends here.
Arteta brought on two more new arrivals in Christian Norgaard and Piero Hincapie for their debuts late on with the points safe.
“The result doesn’t reflect what the match was like, because I thought we had a good game,” said Williams.
“We gave every drop of sweat and there are seven games left — Athletic didn’t come here to enjoy the competition but to compete in it.”
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Former Los Angeles Chargers star Shawne Merriman put naysayers on notice after the team walloped the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night, 20-9, to move to 2-0 on the season.
Merriman told Fox News Digital in a recent interview that the all-around performance from the team showed that they’re true contenders for the conference title.
“If anybody didn’t believe they were going to be contenders, not only in the AFC West, but in the AFC in general, you haven’t been paying attention,” he said. “First of all, Jim Harbaugh won at every program, organization he’s been to the last several years. Two, this is Justin Herbert’s first year having a stable situation where he’s had the same head coach, same offensive coordinator, you know, same, same, same. He hasn’t had that since he’s been playing with the Chargers. Every year, he’s had to learn something new.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) hands the ball off to Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (22) at Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 15, 2025. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)
The first seasons Herbert, who had 242 passing yards and two passing touchdowns against the Raiders, had the same offensive coordinator was in 2021 and 2022 with Joe Lombardi while Brandon Staley was the head coach. With Harbaugh as the head coach, he’s kept Greg Roman on as the offensive coordinator from last season to this season.
Merriman also touted how the entire team has been built and that they no longer have to rely on Herbert trying to make all of the plays to win a game.
“Now, you have a team that’s not relying on Justin Herbert to win anymore,” he said. “If he plays well, great. If he doesn’t, they can still win. The fact that you have the quarterback with the biggest arm in the National Football League that can win games for you is a bonus. But this team is physical on both sides of the football. … This is a big, strong, physical team – that’s their DNA.”
The Kansas City Chiefs have been the cream of the crop in the AFC West for the last nine years. But going into Week 3, they find themselves 0-2 to start the year.
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
HALL OF FAMER DAN MARINO BACKS STRUGGLING CHIEFS AFTER STARTING SEASON 0-2: ‘THEY’RE GOING TO BE OK’
Merriman noted that the Chiefs can no longer rely on Patrick Mahomes to do everything for them and will have to address the holes in their team and their aging stars.
“This is not a knock on the Chiefs at all, but you can only rely on Patrick Mahomes for so long. We’ve seen it with some of the greatest quarterbacks in the business,” he told Fox News Digital. “How long have we seen it with Aaron Rodgers? They didn’t give him a No. 1 wide receiver. They didn’t get people around him. They just say, ‘Hey, you’re Aaron Rodgers. You can go win a lot of football games for us. You don’t need any help.’ And that gets you so far because you can win a lot of games with great quarterbacks.
“Travis Kelce may go down as the greatest or top three greatest tight end of all time, but he’s just like the rest of us. He’s getting older. He can’t do what he used to do five years ago. Xavier Worthy went down with a shoulder. They don’t have a deep threat right now. They can’t run the football effectively. But the Chiefs are still a good team. The Chargers are just better, and that happens in the division when people get better around you and you don’t.”
Los Angeles Chargers safety Tony Jefferson (23) celebrates after making an interception against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Chargers will have their home opener on Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Read more
Source link
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata is finished with the criticism over the tush push as it came under the microscope against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2.
NFL fans noted on social media that some Eagles players may have jumped offside before the ball was snapped as they executed the play. Others were concerned with the offense having too many men on the line of scrimmage.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) is helped up by center Cam Jurgens, center back, after scoring a touchdown on a tush push late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Regardless, the drum is beating again for owners to ban the play once and for all.
“I understand the outrage,” Mailata said in an interview on 94 WIP in Philadelphia. “What I don’t understand is them using it as an excuse to why we won the game. I think it’s incredibly disrespectful to our defense and our special teams, who balled out. My brothers on defense and special teams who balled out that game, who had our backs when we weren’t moving the ball or weren’t doing anything.
HALL OF FAMER DAN MARINO BACKS STRUGGLING CHIEFS AFTER STARTING SEASON 0-2: ‘THEY’RE GOING TO BE OK’
Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata (68) looks on during training camp at NovaCare Complex on July 23, 2025. (Kyle Ross/Imagn Images)
“That kind of irks me a little bit. That p—es me off because we give so much to this game and to kind of base off a short-yardage play – that is a football play. And say that we won the game off that, but not how our defense played and not how our special teams have played, putting us in those positions. You know, I think it’s bullcrap. I just think it’s rubbish. Absolute rubbish, man. It makes my blood boil just thinking about it.”
The tush push survived a vote to end the actions that would have essentially banned the play in the offseason.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) gets a push from behind from Philadelphia Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra (81) agains the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half during an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
And while it helped the Eagles on their way to a Super Bowl title during the 2024 season, the crowd of critics against the play is seemingly growing.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
India terms one-day trade talks with US ‘positive’, ‘forward-looking’
‘That’s cute’: Frontier CEO fires back at United CEO declaring discount airline model dead
Ex-NFL star Shawne Merriman optimistic about Chargers through 2 weeks
-
Business1 week agoWhat to know about the Hyundai-LG plant immigration raid in Georgia
-
Fashion1 week agoGerman brand Adidas & BAPE unveil new football-inspired collection
-
Fashion5 days agoAcne Studios expands in France with redesigned historic HQ
-
Tech1 week agoYour Favorite Streamer’s DJI Mic Kit Is Just $109 Right Now—$60 Off
-
Tech4 days agoHow a 2020 Rolex Collection Changed the Face of Watch Design
-
Fashion5 days agoMexico imposes ADD on footwear originating in China
-
Tech5 days agoCancel Culture Comes for Artists Who Posted About Charlie Kirk’s Death
-
Tech4 days agoOpenAI reaches new agreement with Microsoft to change its corporate structure