Having 'starters' and 'finishers' was a ploy Sarina Wiegman made an artform out of in the Lionesses' Euros win this summer - sending on subs like Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang to turn matches in their favour.

I wonder where Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard stand on their position in the Arsenal squad now?

Let's take this one step further, what would you prefer to be? A starter, or a finisher? And why?

Click thumbs up for starter, thumbs down for finisher...

And click Get Involved to have your say.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football reporter

Mikel Arteta says the "finishers" in his Arsenal squad could be "more important" than those in the starting line-up this season - a concept he says he has taken from rugby union.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard both scored - and assisted one another - after coming off the bench to guide the Gunners to a 2-0 win at Spanish side Athletic Club in their opening Champions League game.

Martinelli has had a tough time in recent months - struggling for form and being dropped to the bench, with new arrival Eberechi Eze preferred on the left wing.

Belgium forward Trossard, meanwhile, has been limited to just three substitute appearances so far in 2025-26 after playing 56 times last season.

Does that mean they are now any less important? Not according to Arteta, who said he "loves" the way players are often referred to as "finishers" in rugby union.

Asked about the mentality of the players left on the bench, he said: "They are at least equally important, or more important. We have discussed that.

"The finishers are going to be more important this season sometimes than the starters.

"We can change the game there, especially with the intensity that we play and teams start to drop off. I'm very pleased to see that."

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspur

Right, plenty for Spurs fans to talk about there:

• Tottenham making defensive strides in an impressive start under Thomas Frank
• But goals are proving hard to come by
• Are you worried about Spurs' attacking play?
• Where do you think the goals will come from?
• Do you need reinforcements in January?
• Or are the attacking solutions already in the squad, they just need time to gel?

Get in touch on all of these topics using the Get Involved button at the top of the page.

Right, back to Arsenal...

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Tottenham have conceded just the one goal so far this season - in the 1-0 loss to Bournemouth.

That is a big improvement on how they started the previous campaign, when they conceded five in their first five games.

In the Premier League they have kept three clean sheets already - meaning they are just two away from equalling their total for the whole of last season.

The more solid platform is potentially coming at a cost, however, with their one shot on target against Villarreal the second time in their last three games they had managed so few efforts on goal.

Manager Thomas Frank knows this is an area that has to improve.

"We have a very good foundation to stand on in terms of our defensive organisation and I think it's good and we gave little away," he said.

"This is the Champions League against a good team. Also, I knew we took a step forward against West Ham, offensively is the area we need to get better."

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I don't know David, judging by last night's results - more on those in a bit - this could be the year of the underdog!

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

This was the result Tottenham wanted as they made their return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2022-23 season, but it was far from a perfect performance.

Junior's unfortunate mistake got the home crowd going and could have been the platform for Tottenham to go on and put in a commanding performance, but that failed to materialise as they largely laboured to the win.

Tottenham's start this season has been impressive, with eye-catching wins against West Ham and Manchester City, but there was the concerning display in the 1-0 loss to Bournemouth.

There were more similarities in this game to the Cherries performance with some poor passages of play and sloppy passes whenever they did break forward.

Despite that, their defending was resolute with Van de Ven and Rodrigo Bentancur making some crucial tackles, particularly in the second half when Villarreal pushed for an equaliser.

The win means Tottenham are now unbeaten in their last 21 home games in Uefa competitions.

Click here to read Terry's opening comment on Spurs turning into Arsenal.

Tottenham Hotspur

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Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven had a big hand in that clean sheet, and admitted the home side rode their luck at times.

He told Amazon Prime: "I think it was a tough one, not an easy one. We didn't play well but it was an important one.

"We had a really good start and of course you want to build on that, but Villarreal are a really difficult team to play against. Every time on the counter attack, they keep the strikers forward, they are really dangerous.

"Of course you want to build on the 1-0 at the start of the game but at the end we got the three points and that's the most important."

On his foul late in the game which earned him a yellow card: "Of course, you never know what the referee is going to do in that moment. I think because I went for the ball it's not a red card. I haven't seen it back properly so I can't say what I think at the moment."

Image source, Getty Images

Outscoring the opposition was the mentality at Tottenham last season but now the focus is on keeping out goals at the other end of the pitch.

Tuesday's 1-0 win against Villarreal in Spurs' Champions League opener was the fourth clean sheet they had kept in five games so far this season under Thomas Frank.

In contrast, they had kept just one at the same stage of last season, when the more attack-minded Ange Postecoglou was in charge.

"We talked a lot about 'clean sheet mentality' this year because we conceded a lot last year," Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall told Amazon Prime.

"They [Villarreal] did not have a shot on target, so we did a really good job."

The style of Frank's Tottenham side against Villarreal was in stark contrast to the swashbuckling football played under Postecoglou.

The price for that level of pragmatism was that Tottenham themselves only had one shot on target - very little for the home fans to get excited about.

Tottenham Hotspur

Thomas Frank had a baptism of fire at Tottenham.

His first game in charge was against European champions Paris St-Germain in the Uefa Super Cup - which pits the winners of the Champions League against the Europa League winners.

He came through that encounter with his reputation well and truly in tact, after Spurs stormed into a 2-0 lead and only eventually lost out on penalties.

Apart from a blip against Bournemouth, results have been impressive since then.

Tottenham results under Frank:

• Paris St-Germain 2-2 Tottenham - Spurs lost 4-3 in pens
• Tottenham 3-0 Burnley
• Manchester City 0-2 Tottenham
• Tottenham 0-1 Bournemouth
• West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
• Tottenham 1-0 Villarreal

Tottenham Hotspur

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank, speaking after Tuesday's 1-0 win against Villarreal in the Champions League:

"Doing the tough job - that gives you a top opportunity to win games and we have proven that so far.

"I thought it was a big win. In any competition it's good to get three points and get a good start. I'm happy with that.

"I'm happy with the clean sheet and happy with the defensive side of the game. I think we were extremely good and limited Villarreal to very little throughout the game.

"Obviously offensively we struggled on the day to create something against a good team. It was a very even game that we edged in the end.

"What I like is that our foundation is strong. Now we are four games won, three in the Premier League and one in the Champions League, and we have four clean sheets which is massive."

Arsenal

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaking after the win over Athletic Club: "I know how much these players want to play this competition and what it means to them, and every time you name the line-up, you are disappointing a lot of players.

"They know how I feel about them, so they know that when I have to leave a player on the bench or out of the squad, it hurts me.

"But to have that experience, I looked on the bench, I looked at [Gabriel] Martinelli and in his eyes I could see that he was ready, Leo [Trossard] as well.

"I was sure that he [Martinelli] was going to react like that. He has such a mentality. He's a player that is constantly willing to learn and he proved himself. He is very demanding with himself.

"And that's the moment that hopefully is going to give him the confidence again to go, because he's an outstanding player and I am so happy he decided the game with his two actions."

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

OK, we have set the scene with those two reports, let's get some reaction from the two managers, who were understandably pleased with the outcome...

Image source, Getty Images

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard came off the bench to score as Arsenal beat Spanish side Athletic Club to get their Champions League campaign off to a winning start.

Martinelli scored just 36 seconds after being introduced, with Belgium forward Trossard putting him through on goal in the 71st minute.

The Brazil winger then returned the favour, beating his man and giving the ball to Trossard to squeeze in the second in the 86th minute.

It was a tough match for Arsenal at times and Bilbao-based Athletic Club, back in the Champions League for the first time since the 2014-15 season, were backed by a vociferous home crowd and started the game extremely fast.

The Gunners had been struggling to create a clear opening in the match before Mikel Arteta introduced Martinelli and Trossard in the second half.

It was not one of the best performances from Arteta's side but, with three points and another clean sheet in the opening game, their Champions League campaign has started perfectly.

Image source, Getty Images

Thomas Frank enjoyed a winning Champions League debut as a calamitous fourth-minute mistake by Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior sealed a narrow victory for Tottenham.

Under no pressure, Junior fumbled Lucas Bergvall's cross into his own net to hand Spurs the dream start in front of their own fans.

This is the first time ex-Brentford boss Frank has managed in this competition but his Tottenham side lived dangerously at times before the break, with only a crucial intervention by Micky van de Ven preventing ex-Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe from curling in, while Tajon Buchanan dragged a shot wide when he looked certain to score.

But only a good save by Junior denied Tottenham adding a second midway through the first half when he kept out Pape Matar Sarr's strike.

Villarreal came on strong in the second half but Tottenham defended superbly to repel them.

Richarlison should have done better with a header as Spurs tried to get the security of a second goal, but ultimately it was not needed.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Because you were the first to get in touch with us this morning Terry, we are going to kick off our round-up with the Tottenham report.

We will just let that Thomas the Frank Engine comment slide...

Image source, Getty Images

As ever, we want to hear from you.

Give us your verdict on Tuesday night's Champions League football.

Which performances impressed you the most and why?

• Arsenal supporters - your subs played a blinder in Bilbao, is the team's strength in depth this season making you believe?
• Tottenham fans - do you care about the performance? It's just great to get off to a win isn't it?

Use the Get Involved button at the top of this page to send us your thoughts.

Elsewhere, in the EFL Cup, Grimsby Town's season just keeps on getting better and better, while Sheffield Wednesday's goes from bad to worse.

The Mariners are well placed in League Two and built on their famous win over Manchester United by marching into the fourth round for the first time in 24 years with victory at an eerily quiet Hillsborough.

Wednesday fans once again protested against the club's ownership by staying away, with the away supporters outnumbering them two to one in an attendance of less than 10,000.

Click on the scores below to read all the EFL Cup match reports.

Tuesday's third-round results:

• Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Grimsby Town
• Brentford 1-1 Aston Villa - Brentford won 4-2 on pens
• Crystal Palace 1-1 Millwall - Crystal Palace won 4-2 on pens

Image source, Getty Images