Arsenal triumphs in Spain: how the substitutes decided the match.

The impact of substitutes on Arsenal's victory

According to The Sun: Mikel Arteta praised his backup players as 'finishers' after Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, coming off the bench, helped Arsenal secure victory yesterday.

The hosts from Athletic Bilbao proved to be a tough opponent, but Arteta decided to give his substitutes a chance.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard celebrate a goal for Arsenal. Getty

Arteta brought Trossard on in the 65th minute for Viktor Gyökeres, and soon called Martinelli to replace Eberechi Eze.

Martinelli was the perfect choice, scoring just 36 seconds after coming onto the pitch.

Trossard sealed the Gunners' victory with a goal three minutes before the final whistle.

Mikel Arteta said after the match: “I looked at the bench, looked at him, and in his eyes I saw that [Martinelli] was ready, just like Leo. This will help us a lot in the future, it will impact the quality of our season. Finishers will be more important this year than starting players. I love that.”

This is not the first time Arteta has emphasized the importance of his substitutes. In 2023, he admitted to calling his substitutions 'impactful' after a conversation with former England rugby team coach Eddie Jones.

Arteta then said: “This is what we wanted to change, and I discussed this with a few people to help us find what particularly suits us. It’s the best way to express how we feel about substitutions and how they should feel about their role, especially in a match.”

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Responsibility for results and team atmosphere

After a hard-fought victory, Arteta notably highlighted the contributions of Martinelli and Trossard.

Arteta added: “They know how I feel about them. The only thing I can do is do my job. I have to make decisions based on the probability of winning matches. They know that is the only reason for such decisions. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but that’s how it has to be.”

This Sunday, Arsenal will return to the pitch, hosting Manchester City at the Emirates.

The importance of substitutes in modern football is increasing, and Arsenal under Arteta clearly demonstrates this. The competition for a place in the starting lineup is becoming fiercer, creating an effective atmosphere within the team. Time will tell how these changes will impact the team's development this season.