Athletic Club captain Inaki Williams has voiced his frustration after the Basque side fell 2-0 to Arsenal in their UEFA Champions League opener on Tuesday night.
The Ghanaian forward led the line with his usual energy and commitment, but despite a lively first-half display, Ernesto Valverde’s men could not turn their dominance into goals. Arsenal, meanwhile, were ruthless after the break, with Gabriel Martinelli breaking the deadlock before Leandro Trossard sealed the win.
🔚 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟-𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘
Athletic gave their all and battled hard, but fall to defeat against @Arsenal in our @ChampionsLeague opener.
🙌 Chins up, Lions!
#AthleticArsenal #UniqueInTheWorld 🦁 pic.twitter.com/VPdiwK5Tb9
— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) September 16, 2025
Williams admitted Arsenal’s pedigree but maintained that the scoreboard told a different story from what unfolded on the pitch.
“The result doesn’t reflect the game; we played well. Arsenal is one of the favourites in this competition; we fought and gave it our all,” the Black Stars striker reflected to the media after the final whistle.
The defeat leaves Athletic chasing an early response in Group play. Williams and his teammates will now shift their focus back to domestic duty, as they gear up for a La Liga clash with Valencia on Saturday, September 20.
