Arsenal set two new Champions League records on Tuesday night against Athletic Club in Bilbao.
The Gunners struggled for large periods during the clash against the Basque side, finding it difficult to penetrate Ernesto Valverde’s solid defensive structure.
However, Arsenal eventually ran out 2-0 winners, courtesy of goals from substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Martinelli’s strike was the fastest scored by a player coming off the bench for an English team in Europe’s elite competition, at 36 seconds.
Incredibly, this wasn’t the most impressive record Arsenal broke at Estadio de San Mames.
Arsenal break Champions League record against Spanish opposition
Arsenal have tangibly improved in Europe under Mikel Arteta over the last few years.
The Gunners reached the Champions League quarter-final in their first season back in the prestigious competition in 2023/24.
They went one step further by reaching the final four last term, where they were defeated by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.
While the stage of the tournament they get to is what Arteta will ultimately be judged on, the Spaniard’s team achieved another record on Tuesday night that demonstrates their progress in continental football.
Arsenal had the opportunity to smash a record if they won in Bilbao, and they did.
The Gunners became the first team to win six games in a row against Spanish opposition in European competition, an impressive feat that Arteta will undoubtedly be proud of, given his roots.
It took the North Londoners a while to get going in the Basque Country, but once they did, they swept past Valverde’s side and deservedly set this record.
Arsenal’s results that led to this Champions League record
This record has been two years in the making for the Gunners.
Arsenal’s first result en route to achieving this feat came back in October 2023, when Arteta’s outfit beat Sevilla 2-1 in Southern Spain, courtesy of goals from Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.
They then won the reverse fixture 2-0 against Sevilla at the Emirates in that group stage, with Trossard and Bukayo Saka giving them all three points on that night.
The third win came over a year later, when Arsenal beat Girona 2-1 away in their final match of the League Phase last season, in January. Goals from Jorginho and Ethan Nwaneri did the trick.
Then came the famous two-legged win over Real Madrid in the quarter-final back in April, beating Los Blancos 3-0 in N5, and 2-1 at the Bernabeu, before Tuesday night’s triumphant win at San Mames.
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