Last season’s semi-finalists, Arsenal kick off their new Champions League campaign away at Athletic Bilbao.
Bilbao qualified for this stage with a fourth-placed finish in La Liga last season, whilst Arsenal finished runner-up in the Premier League.
Team News
Inigo Lekue is a doubt for Athletic Bilbao after he missed their La Liga loss to Alaves due to an adductor injury.
Nico Williams (adductor), Benat Prados (knee), Unai Egiluz (ACL), Aymeric Laporte (ineligible) and Yeray Alvarez (suspension) are ruled out.
Arsenal could be without captain, Martin Odegaard after he suffered a shoulder injury in their 3-0 Premier League victory over Nottingham Forest.
William Saliba (ankle) and Christian Norgaard (knock) are doubts and face late fitness checks.
Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus (both knee) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Athletic Bilbao host Arsenal at San Mames on Tuesday 16 September at 6:45pm CEST (5:45pm BST), live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Athletic Bilbao’s first competitive meeting against Arsenal.
- Arsenal are making their first competitive away visit to Athletic Bilbao.
- This is Athletic Bilbao’s first Champions League clash against English opposition.
- Bukayo Saka has scored in Arsenal’s last two away trips in the Champions League (W1, L1).
Prediction
With just one clean sheet in four games this season (W3, L1), Athletic Bilbao certainly need to tighten up defensively because this will be their toughest test yet but they do have the attacking quality to get a result if can be more clinical than they were against Alaves.
Arsenal meanwhile dominated Forest quite comfortably and even when Odegaard had to be substituted, the defence stepped up with a solid effort as the midfield found a fresh rhythm, but Mikel Arteta’s Gunners haven’t been as impressive performance wise away yet this season.
I however do think that will change here because that home win will only give them more confidence and belief as things begin to click, but Athletic Bilbao won’t make it easy from an attacking perspective.
Prediction: Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Arsenal
Result: Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
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