The early weeks of the 2025 football season are often dominated by discussions of new players. At Arsenal, the recent signings have captured attention. Typically, manager Mikel Arteta utilizes a flexible squad, making alterations based on performance. Surprisingly, for the UEFA Champions League opener against Athletic Club, he only made one change from the squad that faced Nottingham Forest, retaining a brand-new attacking trio.
For the second match in succession, Arsenal’s new forwards—Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze—were selected to spearhead the team’s offense. This decision came on the heels of their strong showing in a recent 3-0 victory against Nottingham. Performance-wise, Eze made significant contributions, assisting Gyokeres in the previous match, while Madueke impressed with his energy on the right flank, often filling in for the injured Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal struggled to score for the initial 72 minutes during the game at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, with the new forward line failing to convert their opportunities. Though they attempted eight shots before Eze was substituted out for Gabriel Martinelli, it was evident that their early chances did not translate to results. By halftime, the team had recorded just four shots with a mere 0.31 expected goals.
The match shifted dramatically when Martinelli entered the field, scoring a mere 36 seconds after his substitution, showcasing the average performance of Eze and Gyokeres who were unable to capitalize on their earlier opportunities. Thierry Henry analyzed that Gyokeres missed a critical opportunity to score on an open run and highlighted Martinelli’s ability to finish when given the chance.
Less than 15 minutes later, Martinelli assisted Leandro Trossard for the second goal, reaffirming the importance of the substitutes in readying to claim starting roles. Despite the performance of Eze and Gyokeres raising questions about their abilities, the depth of the Arsenal squad has proven beneficial.
As Arsenal continues to aim for silverware in their current campaign, Mikel Arteta’s balancing act of testing players while striving for victory remains pivotal, particularly with a crucial match against Manchester City coming up.
