Arsenal come up against Athletic Club in the Basque Country today. Needless to say, this is one of the most exciting fixtures of the season, [as the Champions League nights have returned](https://paininthearsenal.com/athletic-bilbao-vs-arsenal-preview-prediction-lineups-16-9-25).
The Champions League has eluded Arsenal throughout their history. The team that has seemingly won everything has never won the old Big Ears trophy... But they've never been more ready.
Last season, the Gunners reached the semifinals of the competition. They were knocked out by the team that won their first Champions League trophy, by slim margins.
Watching PSG lift the Champions League for the first time surely lit a fuse inside of Mikel Arteta.
It's one of his old teams, so obviously he will be happy for the Parisians. However, this season, he'll want to take that title away from them pronto.
Mikel Arteta will 100% play Declan Rice in Athletic Club vs Arsenal
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At the weekend against Nottingham Forest, Mikel Arteta already dropped his biggest Arsenal lineup hint. Spoiler alert: Declan Rice will start this Champions League match this evening.
Arsenal's most expensive signing was rested against Nottingham Forest, except for a short cameo performance from the bench to keep fitness levels up. This was the biggest hint that Rice will start tonight, in case there was any bizarre doubt about that.
But Rice starting is obvious. It doesn't take a genius to predict that. What does it mean for other players around him?
Well, Martin Zubimendi has played plenty this season. He recently scored a brace against Nottingham Forest, so he's obviously lapping up the opportunity. However, with one eye on Man City at the weekend, Arteta must be thinking about resting Zubimendi.
Whether it means Zubimendi surrendering his starting position or being subbed off early to retain freshness for the weekend, all the signs are pointing towards Christian Nørgaard making his debut.
It's unlikely that Nørgaard will start, unless Mikel Arteta trusts him enough to throw him in the deep end, but Nørgaard could certainly play.
Declan Rice will also be watching the weekend. [Mikel Arteta is unlikely to rotate his squad too much](https://paininthearsenal.com/predicted-arsenal-lineup-vs-athletic-bilbao-champions-league) from the start, as we all know how important the Champions League is to him, but there could be wholesale changes at some point in the game.
Anyone fancy Declan Rice on free kicks?