Arsenal will look to build on their strong start to the season when they travel to the San Mames to take on Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League league phase on Tuesday evening.

The Gunners have won three of their four Premier League matches so far, while Bilbao have the same record in LaLiga.

Bilbao lost 3-0 to Arsenal in the Emirates Cup in pre-season, but a closer game is expected this time around.

Team news

Bilbao forward Nico Williams misses out with an adductor injury, while centre-back Aymeric Laporte was left out of the club’s Champions League squad.

Benat Prados (knee) and Unai Egiluz (ACL) are also unavailable, while Inigo Lekue is doubtful due to an adductor problem of his own and Yeray Alvarez is suspended.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard suffered another shoulder injury against Nottingham Forest and is a doubt to play on Tuesday, while the same can be said about William Saliba (ankle) and Christian Norgaard (knock).

Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are all sidelined and will not travel to Spain.

The stats

Bilbao were beaten 1-0 by Alaves on Saturday, while they also lost by that scoreline in a friendly against Osasuna during the international break.

Before the break, Bilbao had racked up three straight wins in LaLiga and they are third in the table.

Arsenal also have nine points to their name and only Liverpool have beaten Mikel Arteta’s outfit.

The Gunners have only conceded one goal all season in the Premier League.

Source: Punch,ng