- Safiu Kehinde
Arsenal Football Club has kicked off their UEFA Champions League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Spanish La Liga side, Athletic Club.
The North London side had on Tuesday travelled to the San Mames stadium where they locked horn with the Ernesto Valverde-led side.
Both teams however failed to make a mark in the first half of the Champions League opener.
Having squandered a couple of opportunities at half-time, Mikel Arteta subbed off his summer signing, Viktor Gyrokeres, with Belgian attacker, Leonardo Trossard replacing him.
The game still remained tied until the introduction of the Martinelli who gained the momentum for Arsenal.
Martinelli scored the opener in the 72nd minute after receiving a through pass from Trossard.
He drove the ball forward into the host’s box 18 and kept his nerve to send a low shot past Athletics goalkeeper, Unai Simon.
Martinelli would then turned provider in the 87th minute, going past his marker before finding Trossard, who had time to take a touch before getting a shot away, which took a deflection on its way past the keeper.
The game ended in 2-0, earning Arsenal all three points in the fresh quest towards securing their first ever Champions League title.