Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal Tips & Preview - Gunners to triumph in Bilbao

By Tolu Shotade

30 seconds ago

Tolu Shotade 30 seconds ago

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Athletic Bilbao return to UCL after a 10-year absence, face Arsenal at home.
Bilbao have had mixed home results and defensive struggles, conceding in most recent games.
Arsenal in strong form, unbeaten away in 8 of 10, with Gyokeres leading the attack.

Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal

Athletic Bilbao welcome Arsenal to San Mames for their opening clash in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League.

Both teams will be keen to begin on a positive note, but the hosts have been a bit erratic in front of their fans lately. Meanwhile, the Gunners are looking sharp at the moment and should have the edge in Bilbao.

Athletic Bilbao News

Athletic Bilbao last played in the group stage of the Champions League during the 2014-15 season and are making a return after a 10-year absence. However, they do not head into their opening fixture on a positive note, having suffered a 1-0 Spanish La Liga home defeat to Alaves last Saturday.

That was the first defeat of the season for Athletic Bilbao, who have made a generally positive start to the campaign. That result also maintains a recent erratic run for Ernesto Valverde's team at San Mames, having won four and lost three of their last seven home matches.

Athletic Bilbao have struggled to keep things tight at the back lately and are without a clean sheet in nine of their last 10 matches across all competitions. Seven of those fixtures have produced over 2.5 goals, while they have scored in six of their last nine matches in all competitions.

Arsenal News

Arsenal will be looking to at least replicate last season's Champions League showings, where they reached the semi-finals. Mikel Arteta's team have looked confident at the start of this campaign, winning three of their last four matches.

The Gunners will travel to Bilbao off the back of a 3-0 English Premier League home victory over Nottingham Forest, with Viktor Gyokeres getting his third goal of the season. That result maintains a solid record on their travels as they are unbeaten in eight of their last 10 away matches.

Gyokeres’ performances this season will be pleasing to Arsenal as the striker leads an attack that has scored in eight of the last 10 matches across all competitions. However, they have failed to keep a clean sheet in three of their last four away matches, while seven of the last 10 fixtures on their travels have produced over 2.5 goals.

Head to Head

This is the first competitive meeting between Athletic Bilbao and Arsenal. Both teams met in the Emirates Cup back in August, with the Gunners picking up a 3-0 victory.

Verdict

Athletic Bilbao v Arsenal

Arsenal and Athletic Bilbao have shown some quality going forward, while looking shaky at the back. Both teams are expected to score here, and with seven of the home team's last 10 matches producing over 2.5 goals, a repeat could also be considered.

Athletic Bilbao stumbled in the build-up to this clash and have also been a bit erratic at home lately. Arsenal are looking confident at the moment and should claim the upper hand here.

Yes

Both Teams to Score

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Arsenal

To Win

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Over 2.5

Total Goals

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