Arsenal - Mikel Arteta
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal begin their 2025/26 Champions League campaign on Tuesday night with a trip to San Mames to face Athletic Bilbao, but both sides will be without several key players for the Group Stage opener.
The Gunners head into the new European season with high expectations after reaching the semi-finals last season, where they were knocked out by eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain. Mikel Arteta’s side are considered among the contenders again, though their squad will be stretched in Spain.
Captain Martin Odegaard, William Saliba, Christian Norgaard, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are all sidelined, forcing Arteta to call on his depth once more.
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Athletic, meanwhile, return to the Champions League for only the third time in their history, having last featured in 2014/15. Ernesto Valverde’s team finished fourth in La Liga last season and have started the new campaign strongly, collecting nine points from their opening four fixtures. However, their momentum was checked at the weekend by a shock 1-0 home defeat to Alaves.
The Basque club will also be short-handed, with Nico Williams, Benat Prados, Unai Egiluz and Yeray Alvarez ruled out, while Inigo Lekue remains a major doubt. Nico Williams’ absence is a particularly heavy blow, given the winger had just signed a new 10-year deal despite strong interest from Barcelona.
Arsenal - Nico Williams
Nico Williams will miss Athletic Bilbao’s opening Champions League game against Arsenal on Tuesday (Image credit: Getty Images)
His elder brother Inaki Williams, though, insisted Athletic will not be overawed by the challenge of facing Arsenal.
“So many of us are looking forward to debuting in the Champions League. For years we’ve fought for a day like tomorrow and we want to grow our dream,” he said in his pre-match press conference.
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“We are not afraid of anyone. It will be a really nice game. I hope I can debut with a win, but it’s a pity I can’t do it with Nico.”
Valverde, who guided Athletic to last season’s Europa League semi-finals, was quick to praise Arsenal and his opposite number Arteta.
“He’s one of the best coaches in the world and he’s showing what he can do at Arsenal,” Valverde said.
“They don’t let you play, they press in every duel, they insist, and it’s hard to press them. They’re a team with a stamp on them and that stamp is Arteta.”
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