Premier League giants Arsenal kick-off their 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign with a trip to San Mames for their Matchday 1 appointment with Athletic Bilbao.
The Gunners reached the semi-finals last season, beating Real Madrid 5-1 on aggregate in the quarter finals. In the final four, however, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) outclassed them, claiming a 3-1 aggregate win.
Arsenal are 7/1 with football betting sites to win the UEFA Champions League this season.
Arsenal Eyeing Statement Win Against Athletic Bilbao
The pressure is building on Mikel Arteta to bring silverware to north London. They have yet to catch a break in the Premier League, having finished second in the last three seasons.
The Gunners made headlines after beating the mighty Real Madrid in the quarter-finals last season. However, they were no match for PSG in the Champions League semi-finals. They capped off the 2024/25 season without winning a major trophy, and they are eager to avoid the same fate in 2025/26.
Arsenal have already suffered a defeat in the Premier League, losing 1-0 to title favourites Liverpool. They have since bounced back, registering a 3-0 win in their previous league outing against Nottingham Forest.
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League official dates have been confirmed 👇
Arsenal 🔴 pic.twitter.com/Ew4NBX305m
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) August 30, 2025
Arsenal kick off their Champions League journey with a trip to Bilbao on Tuesday. Considering the fact that they are set to face some tough opponents down the road — Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan, among others — a win against Bilbao is crucial.
Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Bilbao will not make it easy for Arsenal. They have gotten off to a rapid start in LaLiga, amassing nine points from four matches. Athletic beat Sevilla, Rayo Vallecano, and Real Betis before losing 1-0 to Deportivo Alaves in their previous outing.
Bilbao will head into the Champions League opener on the back of a disappointing result, possibly with a psychological disadvantage. But a coach as experienced as Valverde will know how to get them charged up for the big night.
Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal: Champions League Match Details
⚽Teams: Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal
🗓️Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025
🏆 Competition: Champions League – Matchday 1
🟥Ref: Donatas Rumsas
⌚KO: 5:45 PM BST
📺Where to Watch: TNT Sports 1
🏟️Stadium: San Mames
Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal Stats and Head-to-Head
- This will be Athletic Bilbao and Arsenal’s first competitive meeting
- Athletic Bilbao and Arsenal met in the Emirates Cup earlier this season – Arsenal won 3-0
- Athletic Bilbao have won three LaLiga matches this season, losing one
- Arsenal have won three Premier League matches, suffering one defeat
- Athletic Bilbao have scored four goals and conceded two to climb to third place in LaLiga rankings
- Arsenal are second in the Premier League, having scored nine goals and conceded just one
- Neither Athletic Bilbao nor Arsenal have ever won the UEFA Champions League
- Athletic Bilbao have returned to the UEFA Champions League after an 11-year hiatus
- Athletic did not make it out of the group stage in their last two UCL outings in 1998/99 and 2014/15
- A win on Tuesday will be historic for Arsenal, as they will become the first-ever team to beat Spanish sides in six consecutive matches
- Aitor Parades is the joint-leading scorer for Athletic Bilbao this season with 1 goal
- Viktor Gyokeres is Arsenal’s top scorer this season with 3 goals
Athletic Bilbao League Form (Recent First): L-W-W-W
Arsenal League Form (Recent First): W-L-W-W
Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal Head-to-Head
Athletic Bilbao and Arsenal have not faced each other in a competitive match so far. They, however, met in the Emirates Cup friendly earlier this season.
Arsenal emerged victorious in the clash at the Emirates Stadium, claiming a 3-0 win. Viktor Gyokeres (35′), Bukayo Saka (37′), and Kai Havertz (82′) scored one goal each for the Gunners.
Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal Champions League Betting Odds – Main Markets
Arsenal are set to be without many of their big players for the UEFA Champions League opener. Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Kai Havertz (knee), and Gabriel Jesus (knee) will sit this one out, while Martin Odegaard (shoulder), William Saliba (ankle), and Christian Norgaard (knock) are doubtful.
Despite so many potential absentees, Mikel Arteta’s side are favourites to get the win on Champions League Matchday 1. Arsenal are 5/6 with bookmakers to win at San Mames. Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile, are priced at 4/1.
Oddsmakers are also backing Arsenal to score the first goal of the match at 3/5.
Match Odds
- Athletic Bilbao – 4/1
- Draw – 5/2
- Arsenal – 5/6
To Score the First Goal
- Athletic Bilbao – 3/2
- No Goals – 10/1
- Arsenal – 3/5
Anytime Goalscorer
- Viktor Gyokeres – 6/4
- Eberechi Eze – 3/1
- Mikel Merini – 7/2
*Odds are subject to change
Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal Prediction and Betting Odds
Athletic Bilbao have proven themselves to be quite a hard nut to crack under Ernesto Valverde, especially at home. Last season in LaLiga, they lost just two of their 19 home matches, winning 11 and drawing six. They scored 32 goals and conceded 13. This season, they have won two games at San Mames and lost one.
Arsenal, however, have no reason to feel too intimidated, as they have plenty of firepower to do some serious damage. Even without Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and even Martin Odegaard, they are the favourites to come away with maximum points.
Eze ➡️ Gyokeres
Three goals in four Premier League games for our Super Swede 🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/tt7TrUFwAU
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 14, 2025
Our prediction: Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Arsenal
Confidence fuels Viktor Gyokeres, and the Swede got plenty of it with the brace against Nottingham Forest. While there is a good chance that he will hit another brace, we are playing it safe and backing him to score at least one.
Best bet: Viktor Gyokeres to score anytime @6/4
