By Danong and 1970s Gooner
Arsenal kick off their 2025–26 Champions League campaign with a trip to Bilbao, where they'll face Athletic Club at the iconic San Mamés.
Arteta and his squad will be keen to replicate or even better their 3-0 thrashing of the La Liga side in last August's Emirates Cup.
Despite injury concerns surrounding Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and William Saliba, Arsenal have shown they can still field a formidable XI.
So far, the club's summer spending spree is paying off. As was the case against Nottingham Forest, Arteta has introduced new partnerships across the pitch, fresh faces in attack, a reshaped midfield, and young defender Cristhian Mosquera getting his chance.
Yet, the Gunners looked strong against Ange Postecoglou's side.
But with such depth, fans are left guessing: who starts, who sits?
Against Bilbao, one would hope Arteta fields a strong team capable of kicking off the Champions League campaign in style.
Saka and Havertz are ofcourse unlikely to feature, but Saliba, who returned to training last Friday, is in contention to start.
With a big clash against Manchester City looming over the weekend, it would be wise for the Frenchman to build match fitness midweek, so he should start.
This fixture also presents the perfect opportunity for Kepa Arrizabalaga and Piero Hincapie to make their debuts. Both are more than capable of holding their own.
It would also be encouraging to see the Zubimendi–Rice–Odegaard trio continue to build chemistry in midfield.
This is if Odegaard has managed to overcome his shoulder injury sustained last Saturday. If as it looks likely he cannot make it then Nwaneri deserves to start due to his excellent display against Forest when he deputised for Odegaard.
Eze was decent against Forest from the left wing, and it's only right that he gets the chance to build on that performance.
Kepa
Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie
Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard /Nawneri
Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze
If Arteta goes with this line-up, Arsenal should be confident of leaving Spain with all three points.
But with such depth, fans are left guessing: who starts, who sits?
Against Bilbao, one would hope Arteta fields a strong team capable of kicking off the Champions League campaign in style.
Saka and Havertz are ofcourse unlikely to feature, but Saliba, who returned to training last Friday, is in contention to start.
With a big clash against Manchester City looming over the weekend, it would be wise for the Frenchman to build match fitness midweek, so he should start.
This fixture also presents the perfect opportunity for Kepa Arrizabalaga and Piero Hincapie to make their debuts. Both are more than capable of holding their own.
It would also be encouraging to see the Zubimendi–Rice–Odegaard trio continue to build chemistry in midfield.
This is if Odegaard has managed to overcome his shoulder injury sustained last Saturday. If as it looks likely he cannot make it then Nwaneri deserves to start due to his excellent display against Forest when he deputised for Odegaard.
Eze was decent against Forest from the left wing, and it's only right that he gets the chance to build on that performance.
Kepa
Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie
Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard /Nawneri
Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze
If Arteta goes with this line-up, Arsenal should be confident of leaving Spain with all three points.
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