Athletic Bilbao Ready to Jegal the Gunners Ambition in the Champions League!

Gilabola.com – Arsenal and Athletic Bilbao will face each other for the first time in a competitive match when they open the 2025/26 Champions League phase on Tuesday night September 16, 2025 at 23.45 WIB at the San Mames Stadium.

Important points ahead of Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal:

• Arsenal can record a record 6 consecutive wins over the Spanish team in the Champions League.
• Athletic Bilbao only appeared three times in the Champions League since 1992.
• The absence of Odegaard and Nico Williams could be a determinant of the game.

Arsenal Ready for New History Carving

Although it has long been waiting for the European trophy since the 1994 Winners Cup title, Arsenal now seemed to be really ready to become a serious candidate for the Champions League. Mikel Arteta brought the team back to the elite competition after seven years of absence, then reached the quarter -finals in 2024 and the semifinals in 2025.

This summer, the Gunners even poured around Rp5 trillion (£ 250 million) to strengthen the squad, while scoring nine points from the first four Premier League matches.

A 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest last weekend-two goals from Martin Zubimendi and Nicks Viktor Gyokeres-proved the depth of this team even without Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, Kai Havertz, and Martin Odegaard who returned to suffered shoulder injuries.

If you win over Athletic, Arsenal will record the record as the first team to be able to conquer the Spanish club six times in a row in the Champions League, after previously getting rid of Real Madrid, Sevilla and Girona.

The emergence of Bilbao and serious resistance

On the other hand, Athletic Bilbao looked at this match with minimal history in the Champions League – just three times took part since the competition format changed in 1992. Last season they finished fourth in La Liga with 70 points, only lost to Barcelona, ​​Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid.

But bitter memories still imprinted after being beaten by Manchester United 7-1 aggregate in the Europa League semifinals 2024.

Early this season, Ernesto Valverde’s troops actually appeared promising with three consecutive wins before tripping over his own home against Alaves due to an Alex Berenguer own goal.

Unfortunately, Athletic had to lose one of its flagship players, Nico Williams, because of injury, plus the absence of Aymeric Laporte, Benat Prados, and Unai Egiluz.

Estimated player composition

Arsenal came with a little injury crisis, where Odegaard, Saliba, and Norgaard were doubtful, while Saka, Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus were confirmed absent. But the depth of Arteta’s squad keeps them favored.

• Athletic Bilbao: Simon; ARESO, LIVING, WALLS, BERCHICHE; Bishop, for jauregize; I. Williams, Sancet, Berenguer; Sannadi
• Armory: Raya; White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly; Merino, Zubimendi, Rice; Hikekekeke, Gyokeres, Martinelli

Score Prediction: Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Although there is a possibility that there is rotation in the back line, Arsenal are still seeded. Without Nico Williams, Bilbao is considered to be difficult to give a surprise.