Arsenal vs Athletic Club: Friendly prediction, kick-off time, team news, TV, live stream, h2h, odds today | OneFootball

The Emirates will host a first-ever meeting between the two sides this weekend

Your matchday briefing on Arsenal, featuring team news and expert analysis from Simon Collings

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Arsenal host Athletic Club at the Emirates this evening for each team’s final pre-season action of the summer.

Arsenal have emerged victorious on eight of those occasions, including five of the last six - three of them (Villareal in 2015, Sevilla in 2017 and 2022) against Spanish opposition.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Arsenal vs Athletic Club is scheduled for a 5pm BST kick-off tonight, Saturday, August 9, 2025.

The match will take place at the Emirates Stadium in London.

Where to watch Arsenal vs Athletic Club

TV channel: The game will not be shown live on terrestrial television in the UK.

Live stream: However, the action will be streamed live via Arsenal’s official website and app, with the club’s platform carrying replays and highlights as well. Pay-per-view access is available starting at £4.99 on an early bird deal valid until 9am on Saturday; after that, on-the-day access will cost £6.99.

Live blog: You can also follow every minute on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Simon Collings at the Emirates.

Arsenal vs Athletic Club team news

In terms of the hosts’ team news, the side-lined trio of Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori may be fit in time to play a part on Saturday despite missing varying durations of pre-season through injury including Wednesday’s loss to Villareal.

Gabriel Jesus, however, is expected to remain out as he continues to rehabilitate his ACL. That, in theory, should leave the path clear for Viktor Gyokeres to start a second straight match for the Gunners as the Swedish striker seeks his first Arsenal goal.

Fellow new arrival Christian Norgaard will hope his midweek goal against Villareal will boost his chances of starting again this weekend, while ex-Chelsea man Noni Madueke is also in the frame after coming off the bench in that game and could step in for Gabriel Martinelli. Norgaard faces comparatively more competition in the middle of the park, where the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Ethan Nwaneri and Mikel Merino - the only man to play all 90 minutes on Wednesday - are all vying for game time.

As usual when he’s available, star man Bukayo Saka should occupy the right wing slot. Arsenal fans will be intrigued to see what role standout youngster Max Dowman plays going forward, meanwhile.

At the back, William Saliba should remain a mainstay in front of first-choice shot-stopper David Raya, and may be partnered by Jakub Kiwior or newcomer Cristhian Mosquera unless usual running mate Gabriel is deemed fit enough to start following his return from injury. Ben White has started four matches in a row at right-back while positional rival Jurrien Timber recovered from injury, although the Dutchman appeared off the bench during the week. On the opposite flank, Myles Lewis-Skelly would appear to be the more likely starter as Calafiori eases back into action.

For the visitors, Inaki Williams should start alongside his younger brother and one-time Arsenal target Nico after the latter signed a new long-term contract to stay in Bilbao.

The Basque club’s famous locals-only transfer policy means they’ve had a typically quiet summer in terms of incomings, aside from bringing in new right-back Jesus Areso from Osasuna. The Spaniard is a likely part of the backline protecting Spain No1 Unai Simon, with veteran left-back Yuri Berchiche the usual go-to on the opposite side.

Attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet, who scored against Liverpool, is expected to miss out with a knee injury sustained at Anfield, while central defender Unai Egiluz will join him on the sidelines.

Arsenal vs Athletic Club prediction

Pre-season form has waned for both of these teams recently, and there is little time to correct that before they begin their respective Premier League and La Liga campaigns.

However, Arsenal will be boosted by a slew of first-team players returning from injury, while summer signings like Gyokeres should benefit from having more matchday minutes to gel with his new team-mates.

Combined with a home crowd and years-long win Emirates Cup streak, that all should be enough of an advantage for the Gunners to get past last season’s fourth-ranked Spanish side and return to winning ways ahead of their season-opening trip to Old Trafford.

Arsenal to win, 3-1.

Head to head (h2h) history and results

Saturday’s pre-season friendly will be the first-ever meeting between these two sides.

That means there’s no head-to-head history to call back to, only a slice of history for whoever grabs the win.

Arsenal vs Athletic Club match odds

Arsenal to win: 2/5

Athletic Club to win: 5/1

Draw: 10/3

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).