Arsenal's preseason has taken a concerning turn after consecutive defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Villarreal, and Mikel Arteta's side will be hoping for a more positive result against Athletic Club on Saturday. With the start of the Premier League just a week away, Arsenal will hope to resemble a side that will challenge for the title in the forthcoming season.
Viktor Gyökeres' first run out in front of the Emirates crowd looked less than stellar, with Arteta later admitting the striker needs more time to get used to his teammates. Noni Madueke and 15-year-old Max Dowman had promising cameos in the 3-2 defeat against Villarreal, with the latter even winning a penalty that was converted by Martin Odegaard.
The game against Bilbao represents Arteta's last opportunity to fine-tune his lineup and offers an immediate comparison with fellow Premier League contenders Liverpool, who defeated Athletic twice in a single day in their most recent game. Gabriel, and Jurriën Timber ought to feature, having returned to the side against Villarreal, though Kai Havertz missed the game after suffering a minor injury in training, which might necessitate another start for Gyökeres.
Athletic Club, meanwhile, have lost five of six preseason games -- their only win coming against third-tier side Ponferradina. Ernesto Valverde fielded two completely different lineups at Anfield, with his reserves losing 4-1, while his first team pushed Liverpool but lost 3-2.
On the transfer front, Bilbao's most important deal of the summer was retaining Nico Williams, who rejected Barcelona's interest to sign a 10-year contract with Athletic.
Arsenal, meanwhile, retain an interest in Eberiche Eze, although that deal may only materialise later in the window.
Here is everything you need to know about Saturday's match.
How to watch:
The match will be available on Arsenal's in-house website and app (Arsenal TV). You can also follow ESPN's live updates.
Key Details:
Date: Saturday, Aug. 9 at 5 p.m. BST (12 p.m. ET; 9.30 p.m. IST and 2 a.m. AEST)
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
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