Athletic Club vs Arsenal Prediction: Another clean sheet for the Gunners

The Uefa Champions League returns to our screens on Tuesday as the league phase for the 2025/26 campaign gets underway. Athletic Club and Arsenal help get the party started in one of the two early kick-offs (17:45 BST, TNT Sports 1), as the two square up at San Mames.

The Spanish hosts have suffered consecutive home defeats in La Liga heading into this clash, while Arsenal have won three of their opening four Premier League fixtures. Read on for my Athletic Club vs Arsenal predictions, aided by the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Athletic Club are without the services of influential attacker Nico Williams due to an abductor injury, and he is not the only home star sidelined for this contest.

Benat Prados (knee) and Unai Egiluz (ACL) are also ruled out for the hosts, while Inigo Lekue (adductor) is a doubt to participate.

Defender Yeray Alvarez is unavailable because of a doping ban, while the recently returned Aymeric Laporte has not been named in the Basque club's Champions League squad.

Nico's brother, Inaki Williams, is fit to feature in this contest and he will captain his side in a very tough contest against a stubborn Arsenal outfit.

Football Odds

Arsenal are having to deal with a few injuries themselves as Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus (both knee) are all ruled out for the trip to Bilbao.

Key defender William Saliba missed the home victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday because of an ankle problem, so he faces a race against time to be fit to participate in Tuesday's fixture, and the same goes for Martin Odegaard (shoulder) and Christian Norgaard (knock).

With Manchester City up next in the Premier League, boss Mikel Arteta may consider rotating for this squad so that many of his first-team stars are well-rested for the visit of the Citizens on Sunday.

This could see Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ben White respectively in the full-back positions.

Athletic Club vs Arsenal Odds

Athletic Club are 3/1 to come out on top here. They have lost just twice at home to English teams in Europe but this included their recent tussle with Manchester United in the Uefa Europa League - which they lost 3-0. The Lions have also suffered back-to-back defeats at San Mames heading into Tuesday.

The draw is marketed at 12/5. Arsenal are 9/10 (implied probability of 52.6%) to collect the three points, and the Gunners have won their past five UCL encounters with Spanish opponents.

All four of the visitors' Premier League matches so far this season have seen at least one team fail to score. BTTS - No is priced at 10/11, while an Arsenal clean sheet is available at 7/5 - which they accomplished in three of those fixtures.

Arsenal to win to nil @ 2/1

Arteta's men are a very tough unit to beat and all three of their league victories so far have seen them keep as many clean sheets in the process. Arsenal have conceded just one goal this season, and that was courtesy of a sublime Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick for Liverpool.

The Gunners have been very organised defensively and I think they can demonstrate their solidity on the continent against Athletic Club on Tuesday. The home side have lost their last two matches, which have both come at San Mames, without scoring, and it is hard to see their luck in front of goal changing against Arsenal.

Even if Arteta makes some changes to his team here, he will still have a very strong XI out on the field that is filled with quality and I think it will shine through in Bilbao. The hosts have found consistency hard over the past 12 months and their 3-0 defeat to Manchester United last term showed how they can crumble in big games.

I'm going for Arsenal to win to nil here, which is already shaping up to be a very appealing market this term.

Viktor Gyokeres anytime goalscorer @ 6/5

With Havertz out, Arteta is limited to making changes at the top end of the pitch, and while Mikel Merino is an alternative option, Viktor Gyokeres' qualities as a forward are going to be crucial in an away trip in the Champions League.

The Sweden international has had a bright start to his Arsenal career with three goals in his first four appearances. I think his physical attributes, along with his goalscoring prowess will set him up nicely to open his UCL account for the Gunners at the first time of asking.

Gyokeres bagged six goals in eight Champions League matches for Sporting CP in 2024/25 and so he has already proven himself capable at this level. I think it will also help the fact that he was on the scoresheet when the two teams met in pre-season in the final of the Emirates Cup - which Arsenal won 3-0.

Offers

Tuesday (16/09): We will be Top Price on Arsenal to beat Athletic Bilbao with selected bookmakers using Oddschecker for the comparison. (Available from 09:30 Tuesday 16/09)

Tuesday/Wednesday (16/09 – 17/09): Opt in and place an In-Play single bet of £10 or more at odds of 1/2+ on any Champions League match on Tuesday or Wednesday and get £5 in Free Bets to use In-Play on Thursday’s Champions League matches.

Place a pre-match 5+ leg Football accumulator and get a CASH bonus up to 100% if all of your selections win or your money back as CASH if one leg lets you down

Double Delight & Hat-Trick Heaven: Get double or treble the odds if your winning First Goalscorer bet scores a 2nd and 3rd

You can read all our latest Football Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.