Athletic Club vs Arsenal: TV channel, live stream, team news and unusual kick-off time

Arsenal are set to kick off their Champions League campaign with a journey to the Basque Country, where they'll face Athletic Club in Bilbao.

Last season, Mikel Arteta's squad finished third in the tournament's revamped league phase and made it as far as the semi-finals, where they were bested by PSG. The French team went on to lift the trophy after defeating Arsenal 3-1 on aggregate.

Now, Arsenal are gearing up for another hopeful European adventure, having suffered only one defeat so far this season against current Premier League champions Liverpool. Their first European challenge comes in the form of last year's Europa League finalists, Athletic Club and football.london provides all the details you need about the upcoming match.

When does Athletic Club vs Arsenal in the Champions League start?

The Gunners are set to take on Athletic Club on Tuesday, 16 September, at the Estadio de San Mames in Bilbao. This stadium was the venue for last season's Europa League final, where Tottenham, Arsenal's rivals, triumphed over Manchester United with a 1-0 victory.

The match is slated to begin at 5:45pm UK time. It's one of two unusually early kick-offs during the first matchday of the Champions League, the other being PSV vs Union Saint-Gilloise.

How can I watch Athletic Club vs Arsenal in the Champions League?

Supporters can tune into Arsenal vs Athletic Club on TNT Sports. The match will be aired on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and discovery+ with coverage commencing at 5:00pm UK time.

TNT Sports is accessible on all major television platforms, boasting up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4).

Additionally, they provide up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD. Subscriptions to TNT Sports are available through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

What's the latest team news ahead of Athletic Club vs Arsenal in the Champions League?

In the lead-up to the showdown in Bilbao, head coach Arteta has confirmed that long-term absentees Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Ben White continue to be unavailable.

Skipper Martin Odegaard, who sustained a shoulder injury during the Gunners' 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest last weekend, is also ruled out.

Bukayo Saka, who has been dealing with a hamstring problem, is unlikely to feature in the match. However, there is optimism that William Saliba and Declan Rice, who was given a rest at the weekend, could make a return to the starting line-up.

Athletic Club have kicked off their La Liga campaign with three victories and just one defeat, mirroring Arsenal's performance in the Premier League. This loss occurred on Saturday at home to Alaves.

Spanish international Nico Williams, who has been linked with a move to the Premier League, is certainly their brightest star. However, he will be missing from Tuesday's match due to an adductor injury.

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