Athletic Club suffer huge injury blow ahead of Arsenal as Mikel Arteta handed Champions League boost

Athletic Club will be without talisman Nico Williams for Tuesday's Champions League tie against Arsenal. Mikel Arteta's side travel to San Mames in their opening league fixture of Europe's elite club competition this season.

The Gunners reached the semi-final last campaign, losing out to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain, and will be hoping to mount another run that almost saw them lift their first-ever major European piece of silverware. First up for Arsenal in the league phase is a difficult-looking trip to Athletic Club, who qualified for the Champions League after finishing fourth in La Liga last term.

Despite Saturday's shock 1-0 defeat at home to Alaves, Ernesto Valverde's men have made an impressive start to the season, winning three out of their first four matches.

However, Arsenal's chances of recording an opening matchday win have been boosted by the news that Nico Williams, who was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium in the summer, won't be involved.

Speaking pre-match, Nico's brother Inaki Williams revealed that the Spain international has been ruled out of the fixture.

"Tomorrow's match will be the first in the Champions League for the majority of the squad," he said. "I'm just disappointed to do it without Nico," Inaki added.

"Arsenal is a very great team but it's not easy to impose oneself at San Mames."

Nico Williams started both of Spain's World Cup qualifiers during the September international break but was forced off before half-time against Turkey last Monday. Later, it was revealed that he had picked up a left adductor issue.

The 23-year-old ended up missing out against Alaves on Saturday, and Valverde provided an update on his condition after that game, admitting he faced a race against time to be fit to face Arsenal.

"Of course I'd like to have him back soon, but I don't know. It will depend on how his injury progresses," ex-Barcelona boss Valverde said.

Williams has one goal and two assists to his name in three appearances for Athletic Club this season. They all came in one game, as he starred during their opening weekend 3-2 win against Sevilla.

The Gunners came up against Athletic Club in pre-season, with Arteta's side running out comfortable winners, as Viktor Gyokeres, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz found the net at the Emirates Stadium.

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