Arsenal vs Athletic Club Bilbao: Kick-off time, how to watch on TV

How to watch Arsenal vs Athletic Club Bilbao: Kick-off time, TV, Live stream, latest team news and much more 

Prologue 

Ok, so Arsenal fluffed their lines against a Villarreal side that will compete in the Champions League this season. 

No dramas, all that matters is that Mikel Arteta's Gunners are as ready and prepared as they can be for the opening match of the season, at Old Trafford, against Manchester United a week on Sunday. 

As Arteta admitted after the match against the Yellow Submarines, which included two former Gunners in Pepe, and Denis Suarez, the entire week leading up to the mighty clash with the Red Devils will be packed with preparatory work. 

Which is good to hear, as, perhaps undertandably when you are coming off the back of an intense tour to Asia, while attempting to incorporate six new faces, and a precocious 15-year-old, Arsenal looked a tad disjointed. 

Let's hope they show more cohesion against a Bilbao side that will also be featuring in the Champions League this forthcoming season. 

However, on the plus side, teenage talent Max Dowman once again looked like during another cameo appearance, as did Noni Madueke, while new striker Viktor Gyokeres added vital minutes to his fledgling Arsenal career. While former Brentford captain Christian Norgaard looked assured, and even grabbed a goal. 

Captain Martin Odegaard looked lively when he arrived midway through the second half amid a raft of changes, underling hopes that the creative Norwegian is heading back to his best form by cooly slotting home his penalty in normal time to pull a goal back and make the final score 2-3. 

For their part the legendary Ernesto Valverde's side lost out 3-2 to Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield on Monday night, as will end their mini-tour of England with Saturday's clash against Arsenal. 

Despite the two sides never meeting before, Saturday's clash promises to be an intruiguing one. 

When is Arsenal vs Athletic Club Bilbao

Arsenal vs Athletic Club Bilbao will be played on Saturday, August 9

Venue: Emirates Stadium, London

When does Arsenal vs Athletic Club Bilbao kick-off

Arsenal vs Athletic Club Bilbao kicks-off at the Emirates at 5pm British Summer Time. 

(12pm ET - 930pm IST - 2am AEST)

How to watch Arsenal vs Bilbao

The match will be available on the Arsenal website and app. 

Arsenal vs Athletic Club Bilbao 

Arsenal team news 

Brazil defender Gabriel and and Jurrien Timber are set to feature, even if Kai Havertz will miss his second Emriates match in a matter of days, after sitting out the Villarreal defeat due to picking up a minor knock in training - with Viktor Gyökeres set to start once again. 

Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Califiori are expected to feature at some stage after missing out on Wednesday evening against Villarreal 

Bilbao team news 

Bilbao's best and most vital transfer deal of the summer was in persuading Spain Euro 2025 winner Nico Williams to spurn Barca's (and Arsenal's) advances and put pen to paper on a new, and vastly improved contract, with the talented winger signing a 10 year deal. 

Oihan Sancet finished as top scorer last term with an impressive 17 goals as an attacking midfielder, while the club's experienced leadership group featuring vice-captains Yuri Berchiche, Inigo Lekue and Yeray Álvarez have made more than 600 La Liga appearances between them.

Athletic Club will also be fielding Williams' Euro 2024 winning Spainish teammate, Unai Simon, won the Zamora Trophy as the best keeper in La Liga last term. 

Bilbao form

Having lost five of their six preseason games Valverde fielded two different starting XI's at Anfield, with the reserves losing their match 4-1, before his first team were overpowered 3-2 against Arne Slot's Liverpool earlier this week. 

With Bilbao's only win this summer so far coming against third-tier side Ponferradina, Valverde will be hoping to emulate the Yellow Submarines 3-2 victory on Wednesday in North London. 

Head coach Ernesto Valverde

Experienced head coach Ernesto Valverde is a true Basque icon for the club that only fields players from its region. 

Incredibly, Bilbao, along with Real Madrid and Barcelona have never been relegated from the Spanish top flight. 

The 61-year-old spent six years as a player at the evocative old San Mames ground, prior to rejoining this proud Basque club as boss back in 2013. During his first spell in charge he led Bilbao to Champions League qualification before then lifting the side's first trophy in 31 years, the Supercopa de Espana.

The wily Valverde then spent three season in the Nou Camp hotseat, prior to coming back for his third spell with the club of his heart, in 2022.

To underline his pedigree won the Copa del Rey trophy in 2024, before steering his side to the promised land of the Champions League once again, after losing a mere six matches all season, as his side finished fourth on 70 points.

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