In the opening round of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League group stage, North London’s two Premier League giants, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, both claimed victories over strong opponents from La Liga, marking a perfect start to their campaigns.
Arsenal Extend Dominance Over Spanish Teams
Arsenal secured a 2–0 away win against Athletic Bilbao thanks to the outstanding performances of substitutes Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli.
This victory not only gave the Gunners three points with ease but also made them the first team in Champions League history to record six consecutive wins against Spanish opposition.
Head coach Mikel Arteta said after the match: “Last season, we reached the semifinals of the Champions League. Although we eventually lost to Paris Saint-Germain, the team showed its real strength. This year, we will continue to push forward and aim to go even further.”
Martinelli Scores Record-Breaking Goal in 36 Seconds
The match remained goalless until the 72nd minute when Martinelli, having just come off the bench for only one minute, found the breakthrough.
Assisted by Trossard’s clever back-heel pass, Martinelli kept his composure and slotted the ball home, setting a new club record for the fastest goal scored by a substitute in the Champions League.
Trossard Strikes Again to Seal the Win
In the 87th minute, Martinelli broke through down the left flank and delivered a precise cutback to the six-yard box, where Trossard fired home with his right foot to secure the victory.
According to statistics, since joining Arsenal in 2023, Trossard has contributed 10 goals and four assists as a substitute, more goal involvements than any other Premier League player during the same period.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s defence has remained solid, conceding only one goal and allowing just seven shots on target across their last four matches.
Spurs Capitalise on Opponent’s Own Goal
In contrast to Arsenal’s commanding display, Tottenham’s victory appeared somewhat fortuitous. Hosting Villarreal, Spurs took the lead as early as the fourth minute when visiting goalkeeper Junior fumbled a routine save and turned the ball into his own net.
Both Teams Struggle in Attack
From then on, both sides offered little in attack. Spurs managed only one shot on target for the entire game, while Villarreal failed to register a single effort on goal.
Despite the lacklustre performance, Tottenham still managed to hold on for a 1–0 win, claiming three crucial points.
Post-Match Reaction from Spurs Boss
New head coach Frank admitted after the match: “Today we didn’t reach the attacking level we showed in last weekend’s 3–0 Premier League win over West Ham, but getting the victory was still very important.”
Premier League Sides Off to a Strong Start
With both Arsenal and Tottenham earning opening wins, Premier League clubs made a strong statement in this season’s Champions League, boosting confidence and momentum for the upcoming group stage fixtures.
