'You have to be better than he showed tonight' - Steve McManaman critical of Eberechi Eze's Champions League debut as Arsenal beat Athletic Club

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It was Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard who grabbed the headlines for Arsenal in Bilbao as the Gunners won their UEFA Champions League opener against Athletic Club. Eberechi Eze was kept quiet on the left flank, and Steve McManaman gave a candid assessment of the summer signing's performance. Eze joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace in a £67.5 million deal in the summer.

Martinelli did more in five minutes than Eze did in 70 minutes - McManaman

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TNT Sports expert Steve McManaman called on Eberechi Eze to be "better" and "quicker" after his first appearance for Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League.

Eze was quiet on the left flank for 70 minutes against Athletic Club before being replaced by Gabriel Martinelli, who made an almost instant impact to give Arsenal the lead from the bench.

Another substitute, Leandro Trossard, doubled the visitors' lead soon after to ensure a winning start to the league phase for the Gunners.

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And McManaman suggested Eze will quickly need to adjust to the high standard of the Champions League.

"Martinelli did more in five minutes than Eze did in 70 minutes," the former Liverpool and Real Madrid winger said during live coverage of the match on TNT Sports.

"Eze will watch that performance tonight when he goes back and say 'this is a different class of opposition'. They're quicker, stronger than he faced in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, and he knows his level will have to jump up.

"You're now playing big boy football in the Champions League. If you want to compete, you have to be quicker, you have to be better than he showed tonight."

Highlights: Super subs Martinelli & Trossard make instant impact as Arsenal overcome Athletic Club

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McManaman was more positive on Eze's potential at Arsenal before the match, claiming the 27-year-old could become a "world superstar".

"I think it was a magnificent signing," he said. "He's potentially a world superstar.

"When he plays at the biggest stadiums and in bigger competitions, he will get better.

"He looks like one of those players who takes it on his back and thinks 'this is very easy'."

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown was equally enthusiastic, saying: "With Eze, it's interesting seeing the players react when he gets the ball, thinking 'he's gonna find me'.

"I think he's a game changer. It's a really significant signing."

'Has to attack it!' - Eze caught 'on his heels' as Arsenal chance goes begging

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Eze may have been subdued in Bilbao but Arsenal had enough for a valuable three points to kickstart their Champions League campaign.

The Gunners reached the semi-finals of last season's competition, losing to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.

And the aim will inevitably be to go one better this year, after a busy summer that included the big-money additions of Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke, as well as Eze.

"I think their business in the transfer window has been exceptional," McManaman added.

"There's no excuses for me, for Arsenal, if they don't do anything this year. Because the squad that they've assembled is outstanding - it's one of the best in Europe by far."

Ally McCoist, speaking on commentary during the match, echoed those sentiments, highlighting Arsenal's defensive solidity as a key factor.

"They're clearly one of the favourites," he said. "The strongest thing about Arsenal for me at this moment in time is the back four and the goalkeeper. They might have the best defence in the tournament.

"Whether they've got enough up front, time will tell. But I would suggest defensively, probably the best."

Arteta: 'We had to earn the right'

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was effusive in his praise of an Arsenal side that were made to work for victory.

"I’m very happy. It’s an incredible place to come and play football, and the atmosphere is one of the best I've seen," he said.

"We knew it was going to be very difficult, so we had to earn the right to win the game. I think throughout the game we became more and more dominant and much more of a threat.

"So overall, very good. I'm going to see some family now, I'm looking forward to it. I hope the fans travelled well, they were amazing again."

‘What an impact!’- Martinelli scores just 36 seconds after coming on as Arsenal make breakthrough

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On the impact of the substitutes, Arteta added: "Something that we always discuss is that the finishers have to impact the game, and Gabi [Martinelli] and Leo [Trossard] came on to make the difference for the team.

"They were outstanding and the rest of the team as well. In many moments, they were at a very good level. When someone is able to win the game in those actions and be so clinical, it's exactly what we need because the threat can come from different ways and different players. I'm very pleased with that.

"It means that [Gabi and Leo] are connected and they feel that they are really, really important. We have discussed that a lot. We're going to need that. Piero [Hincapie] comes in and plays five minutes and so does Christian [Norgaard] and it's the best five minutes of their lives.

"That's the spirit that we need amongst the squad. If we have everybody at that level, we'll win a lot of games."

Arsenal's next match in the Champions League is at home to Olympiacos on Wednesday, October 1.

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