Arsenal boss Arteta speaks in Bilbao ahead of Champions League clash at San Mames 

Gunners Basque boss Mikel Arteta has been previewing Arsenal's Champions League clash with Bilbao at the San Mames 

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been speaking ahead of the Gunners eagerly-awaited opening Champions League clash of the 2025-26 season against Athletic Club Bilbao in the Basque region of Spain. 

With the Gunners riding high in second place in the Premier League thoughts are turning to Europe this week, with the North Londoners first ever competition fixture against Bilbao, even if the pair faced each other last month in the Emirates Cup in north London.

While the Gunners ran out comfortable winners that day, with first-half goals from new signing Viktor Gyokeres and Bukayo Saka giving Arteta's side a 2-0 half time lead, prior to Kai Havertz completing the scoring before Arsenal also won a post-match penalty shootout 6-5.

However, Havertz suffered an injury to his hamstring after the Gunners beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford in the season opener, with the Gunners enduring further blows with Gabriel, Ben White and Martin Odegaard joining Saka on the injury list.

Confirming as much on Monday evening at San Mames, Arteta  shared early team news by saying: “Gabby, Kai, Ben and Martin are still out unfortunately.”

Arteta was also asked if Odegaard flew with the squad to Bilbao, replying: “No, he's back home,” said the Arsenal boss at San Mames. 

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