Inaki Williams
Image credit: Getty Images
Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams has tipped Arsenal as one of the favourites to win the Champions League this season following his side’s 2-0 defeat to the Gunners at San Mames on Tuesday night.
Mikel Arteta’s men were tested in their opening group fixture, struggling to carve out clear opportunities against Ernesto Valverde’s organised side. But the introduction of Gabriel Martinelli changed the contest, as the Brazilian broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute. Racing onto a lofted ball from Leandro Trossard, Martinelli surged through from inside his own half before slotting past Unai Simon.
The pair combined again late on to seal the points. In the 87th minute, Martinelli set up Trossard, whose deflected finish beat Simón to confirm a perfect start to Arsenal’s European campaign.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta admits frustration at benching Arsenal star he adores
Arsenal reached the semi-finals last season before being eliminated by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain, and Williams believes they are strong contenders to go even further this term.
Inaki Williams against Arsenal
Inaki Williams against Arsenal in the Champions League (Image credit: Getty Images)
“The result doesn’t reflect what the match was like because we played a good game. In the end, it’s Arsenal, one of the favourites in this competition,” Williams told Movistar. “We fought, we gave it our all, and today it wasn’t to be.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE NOW ARSENAL WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
“They have a lot of quality. We knew this before the start, that world-class players can kill the game in two isolated plays. We were far superior in the first half, but after their first goal our spirit dropped a little. Still, we kept competing.”
Valverde echoed Williams’ sentiments, admitting Arsenal’s physicality told as the game wore on. “It was a fairly even match, to be honest,” the Bilbao boss said. “We tried to put them under pressure, and we had our chances. But Martinelli’s play hurt us, and as the match progressed, you could see their strength and power. I’m sorry we couldn’t deliver a victory, but we were recognisable as a team.”
The defeat ends Bilbao’s unbeaten home run in Europe, while Arsenal’s win marks a historic sixth consecutive victory over Spanish opposition in the Champions League. With Martinelli and Trossard in electric form, Arteta’s side once again look ready to mount a serious challenge for European glory.
NEXT ARTICLE: Gabriel Martinelli sets new Arsenal record with 36-second goal at San Mames