As Arsenal prepare to face Athletic Bilbao in their Champions League opener, three individual duels could prove decisive at San Mames. The Gunners are favourites on paper, but Athletic thrive on intensity and home support, meaning these matchups may well decide who takes control on Tuesday night.
3 Key Battles for Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal
Oihan Sancet vs Martin Zubimendi
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Athletic’s heartbeat in midfield meets Arsenal’s new general. Oihan Sancet is Bilbao’s creative hub, often drifting between the lines to link midfield with attack. His ability to find pockets of space and feed Inaki Williams will be a major weapon for Ernesto Valverde’s side.
For Arsenal, Martin Zubimendi arrives in Spain as a man in form, having scored twice against Nottingham Forest and impressed for La Roja during the break. Tasked with shielding the back four, his reading of the game and distribution will be vital. If Zubimendi can dictate tempo and close off passing lanes to Sancet, Arsenal will suffocate Bilbao’s main creative outlet. Lose that duel, and Bilbao gain the control they need to trouble the Gunners.
Yuri Berchiche vs Noni Madueke
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Veteran defender Yuri Berchiche faces one of the toughest assignments in European football, containing Noni Madueke. The Arsenal winger has been electric since stepping in for the injured Bukayo Saka, shining for both club and country with his direct dribbling and relentless aggression.
Berchiche, 35, relies on positioning and experience rather than pace, but Madueke’s willingness to isolate his man and beat him one-v-one could stretch Bilbao’s defensive structure. Expect Berchiche to be supported by his midfielders, but if Madueke consistently beats him, Arsenal will find joy down the right-hand channel. This duel is as much about containment as it is survival for Athletic.
Daniel Vivian vs Viktor Gyökeres
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Athletic’s most physical defender, Daniel Vivian, is set for a bruising encounter with Arsenal’s new talisman, Viktor Gyökeres. The Swede has already made himself at home in North London with three goals in four matches, his mix of strength, movement, and clinical finishing adding a new dimension to Arteta’s attack.
Vivian relishes aerial duels and thrives in a physical contest, but Gyökeres’ mobility means he won’t simply stand and wrestle. Instead, he drags defenders wide, creates space for runners, and times his movement in the box. If Vivian can keep him quiet, Athletic have a chance of holding firm. But if Gyökeres wins the physical battle, Arsenal’s attack becomes almost impossible to contain.
Author Opinion
Arsenal’s quality and squad depth make them favourites, but San Mamés is no easy place to visit. If Zubimendi locks down Sancet, Madueke overwhelms Berchiche, and Gyökeres outmuscles Vivian, the Gunners will likely leave Bilbao with three points and extend their remarkable run against Spanish opposition.
Related Items:Athletic Bilbao, Daniel Vivian, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Oihan Sancet, Viktor Gyokeres, Yuri Berchiche
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