Arsenal are preparing to step back onto the grand European stage, with the familiar Champions League anthem awaiting them ahead of Tuesday’s opening group clash against Athletic Club.
Mikel Arteta’s side reached the semi-finals last season before bowing out to eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain, while the Basque outfit secured their return to the Champions League after finishing fourth in 2024-25 La Liga.
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Arsenal turn towards European action on the back of their 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, which saw Martin Zubimendi score a brace. Meanwhile, Athletic Club suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss to Alaves this weekend to end their three game winning streak in league play.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times and the latest lineup news.
Athletic Club vs. Arsenal live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this Champions League match in Australia:
TV channel: N/A
Live stream: Stan Sport
This game is not available on free-to-air TV. Athletic Club vs. Arsenal is available for live stream, exclusively on Stan Sport.
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What time does Athletic Club vs. Arsenal kick off?
This Champions League clash takes place at the San Mames in Bilbao, Spain and kicks off on Tuesday, September 16 at 6:45 p.m. local time (CEST).
Here's how that time translates across Australia:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Wednesday, September 17 | 2:45 a.m. |
| Australian Central Standard Time | Wednesday, September 17 | 2:15 a.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Wednesday, September 17 | 12:45 a.m. |
Athletic Club vs. Arsenal lineups, team news
Athletic will also be without one of their key players, as Nico Williams is sidelined by an adductor issue. Aymeric Laporte, meanwhile, has not been named in Ernesto Valverde’s squad for the group phase.
The Basque side’s injury list is further stretched by the absences of Benat Prados (knee) and Unai Egiluz (ACL), while experienced centre-back Yeray Alvarez remains banned following a doping offence. There is also lingering doubt over the fitness of Inigo Lekue (adductor).
Athletic Club predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Simon (GK) — Areso, Vivian, Paredes, Berchiche — Vesga, Jauregizar — I. Williams, Sancet, Berenguer — Sannadi.
Injured: Williams, Prados, Egiluz, Lekue (doubt)
Suspended: None
Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard has endured a second shoulder setback in just three outings, with Mikel Arteta confirming that the problem concerns the same area he damaged against Leeds United last month.
Supporters are anxiously awaiting updates on whether their captain will be passed fit for Tuesday, alongside William Saliba (ankle) and Christian Norgaard (knock). However, Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Kai Havertz (knee) and Gabriel Jesus (knee) are all certain absentees, leaving the Gunners short of key attacking options.
Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3 right to left): Raya (GK) — White, Mosquera, Hincapie, Lewis-Skelly — Merino, Zubimendi, Rice — Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Injured: Saliba, White, Norgaard, Saka, Havertz, Jesus
Suspended: None
Champions League fixture schedule this week
All times AEST
Wednesday, September 17
- PSV Eindhoven vs. Union SG (2:45 a.m. AEST)
- Athletic Bilbao vs. Arsenal (2:45 a.m. AEST)
- Benfica vs. Qarabag FK (5 a.m. AEST)
- Juventus vs. Borussia Dortmund (5 a.m. AEST)
- Real Madrid vs. Marseille (5 a.m. AEST)
- Tottenham Hotspur vs. Villarreal (5 a.m. AEST)
Thursday, September 18
- Olympiacos vs. Pafos FC (2:45 a.m. AEST)
- Slavia Prague vs. FK Bodø/Glimt (2:45 a.m. AEST)
- Liverpool vs. Atletico Madrid (5 a.m. AEST)
- Ajax vs. Inter Milan (5 a.m. AEST)
- Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea (5 a.m. AEST)
- PSG vs. Atalanta (5 a.m. AEST)
Friday, September 19
- Club Brugge vs. AS Monaco (2:45 a.m. AEST)
- FC Copenhagen vs. Bayer Leverkusen (2:45 a.m. AEST)
- Newcastle United vs. Barcelona (5 a.m. AEST)
- Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Galatasaray (5 a.m. AEST)
- Manchester City vs. Napoli (5 a.m. AEST)
- Sporting CP vs. Kairat (5 a.m. AEST)