Emirates Cup Match Preview, Predicted Line-up and Score Prediction: Arsenal vs Athletic Club

In partnership with

Just Arsenal News

·8 de agosto de 2025

Emirates Cup Match Preview, Predicted Line-up and Score Prediction: Arsenal vs Athletic Club

Arsenal will participate in their final friendly game of pre-season when they take on Athletic Club on Saturday 9th August. The encounter will mark the club’s last game before the top-flight campaign commences next week.

Arsenal come into the clash off the back of two losses, one in Asia and the other on home soil. Defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Villarreal have generated a bit of concern with the season so close, but the Gunners have the chance to put it right on Saturday. Arsenal will be aiming to beat Ernesto Valverde’s side to lift the 14th edition of the Emirates Cup.

OneFootball Videos

Date: Saturday 9th AugustKick-off: 5:00pm (UK time)Venue: Emirates Stadium, LondonCompetition: Emirates Cup (club friendly)

Team news

Following long injury lay-offs, Arsenal welcomed back Gabriel Magalhães and Jurrien Timber to the squad against Villarreal. However, there were some surprise absentees for that encounter. Kai Havertz was not included in the squad, while Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard may not make it in time for the match following respective injuries on the Asia tour.

Mikel Arteta gave a positive update on the trio following the game and revealed they are all in line to feature on Saturday depending on how their situations evolve. Gabriel Jesus remains out with a long-term injury.

Viktor Gyoekeres (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Predicted line-up

Due to a number of factors, Mikel Arteta has not been able to build continuity throughout pre-season. Nonetheless, the game against Athletic Club will be the final dress rehearsal ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. Against Villarreal, Arteta started with a front three that will probably feature significantly this season, but the midfield three of Mikel Merino, Ethan Nwaneri and Christian Nørgaard probably will not.

The story was the same in the second half, when he brought on the starting midfielders and substituted the front three. Against Bilbao, however, I expect the Spaniard to go strong and pick a line-up that will probably start against Manchester United on 17th August:

David RayaJurrien TimberWilliam SalibaGabriel MagalhãesMyles Lewis-SkellyDeclan RiceMartin ZubimendiMartin Ødegaard (c)Noni MaduekeViktor GyökeresBukayo Saka

Score prediction in the comments, mine is a 3-1 win… COYG!

Benjamin Kenneth

__________________________________________________________________________________________ ADMIN COMMENT

So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….

You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.

CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…