Arsenal’s European quest gets underway at the Estadio de San Mamés as the Gunners face Athletic Club in a mouth-watering Champions League clash. The Basque side returns to Europe’s premier competition for the first time since 2014. Arsenal arrives with semifinal experience from last season, but injuries to key players make this opening fixture complicated for them.
Where to Watch Athletic Club vs Arsenal
Catch live coverage in the United Kingdom via TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video, with Paramount+ streaming the match in the United States. Fans in India can watch on Sony, with kick-off scheduled for 10:15 PM IST, 5:45 PM BST, 12:45 PM ET, and 9:45 AM PT. DAZN provides coverage across multiple territories.
Probable Starting Lineups for Athletic Club vs Arsenal
Athletic Club
GK: Unai Simón
Defenders: Jesús Areso, Dani Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Yuri Berchiche
Midfielders: Mikel Jauregizar, Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Iñaki Williams
Forwards: Oihan Sancet, Maroan Sannadi, Alex Berenguer
Arsenal
GK: David Raya
Defenders: Jurriën Timber, Gabriel Magalhães, Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino
Forwards: Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel Martinelli
Head-to-Head Record
Arsenal and Athletic Club have faced each other only once. The two sides met in the Emirates Cup, where the Premier League side emerged victorious, clinching the game with a 3-0 scoreline.
Current Form
Athletic Club returns to the Champions League stage after an 11-year wait, having finished fourth in La Liga last season behind only the traditional big three. Their recent form shows three wins from four domestic matches, though a surprising 1-0 home defeat to Alavés on Saturday has raised questions about momentum. Nico Williams’ injury removes their most dangerous attacking threat from the lineup.
Arsenal enters as semifinalists from the previous campaign, building on that experience with a €293.5 million summer investment. The Gunners demolished Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the weekend despite missing several key players. The return of William Saliba from injury provides a boost, but losing captain Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka creates tactical headaches for Mikel Arteta.
The Champions League is back ✨ pic.twitter.com/c1QQsH0Fvw
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 15, 2025
Key Battles in Athletic Club vs Arsenal
Oihan Sancet vs Martin Zubimendi: The Athletic playmaker faces Arsenal’s new midfield anchor as both teams look to control the tempo through the middle of the park.
Viktor Gyökeres vs Dani Vivian: Arsenal’s summer signing from Sporting will test Athletic’s defensive leader in aerial duels and direct route to goal.
Iñaki Williams vs Riccardo Calafiori: The pace and experience of Athletic’s veteran winger against Arsenal’s dynamic left-back promises an intriguing individual battle.
Tactical Analysis
Arsenal will look to press high and exploit the wide areas through Madueke and Martinelli, using Gyökeres as a key for quick transitions. The Gunners’ ability to switch play rapidly should test Athletic’s defensive structure, particularly with Alexander-Arnold’s crossing absent from the right flank. Arteta’s side will aim to build through their new midfield partnership of Rice and Zubimendi.
🎶 The Chaaaampiiiooooonnnnssss!!
Nos vemos esta tarde, athleticzales.
🆚 @Arsenal
🏟️ San Mamés
🕡 18:45 horas#AthleticArsenal #UniqueInTheWorld 🦁 pic.twitter.com/pJCygEIRAh— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) September 16, 2025
Athletic Club thrives on their passionate home support and organized defensive shape under Ernesto Valverde. Without Nico Williams, they’ll rely on Iñaki Williams’ experience and Sancet’s creativity to break Arsenal’s defense. The hosts are great at making San Mamés an intimidating venue, using their compact midfield to break opponents’ rhythm and take advantage on the counter-attack.
Prediction for Athletic Club vs Arsenal
Arsenal possesses superior individual talent and European experience, but Athletic’s home advantage and defensive discipline make this a tricky opener. The Gunners’ injury list somewhat levels the playing field, giving Athletic genuine hope of causing an upset.
Arsenal’s quality should prevail in key moments, but expect a tight contest with Athletic, making life uncomfortable for the Premier League runners-up. The visitors’ depth and tactical flexibility should see them claim a hard-fought victory to start their Champions League campaign on the right note.
