Saliba call, Hincapie debut, Norgaard and Martinelli roles - Arsenal line-ups vs Athletic Club

After being knocked out at the semi-final stage last season, Arsenal finally make their return to Champions League action on Tuesday night.

Mikel Arteta's side were well beaten by the eventual winners of the competition PSG in May, with the French giants winning 3-1 after two legs. The Gunners will be hoping to go one better during the 2025/26 season, with Athletic Club their first league phase opponents.

William Saliba and Christian Norgaard were among those to train on Monday ahead of the European clash, although Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all missed the session due to injury. Arteta will want to get a positive result in Bilbao, especially with the likes of Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich to come in the coming months.

So, what should Arteta's line-up look like against the La Liga side? football.london's Arsenal writers have their say below!

Tom Canton

Facing Nottingham Forest and Athletic Club in the week before facing Manchester City is a huge challenge. However, having the depth this side now has means Mikel Arteta is more than equipped to deal with it.

That is even without the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus who are all expected to miss the game. It is a testament to the squad building that the Spaniard can rotate and field such a competitive side even with these absences.

It could be a great chance for both Piero Hincapie and Christian Norgaard to make their official Arsenal debuts. While Eberechi Eze can be moved in to cover the missing captain and Leandro Trossard comes in to play off the left.

Ben White is not yet ready to return it seems so Jurrien Timber continues and even though I expect David Raya to continue in goal, I’d give Kepa Arrizabalaga a chance to face his old club. When you have a competitive keeper, why not throw him in for this fixture.

Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Athletic Club – Kepa; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie; Norgaard, Rice, Eze; Madueke, Gyokeres, Trossard

Sam Truelove

The first Champions League game of the season is the perfect opportunity to lay down a marker to the rest of Europe. A victory will cement Arsenal as genuine contenders to win the competition. With the squad Mikel Arteta has at his disposal, the Gunners should be just that.

For me, Arsenal should look to be as solid as possible defensively and that means sticking with a tried and tested formula. David Raya, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Myles Lewis-Skelly are my picks for the backline. It might be a risk throwing Saliba straight in after the Frenchman's ankle injury suffered at Liverpool, but if the centre-back is fit he plays in my opinion.

Martin Zubimendi will be playing familiar opponents and will probably welcome the chance to go back to his homeland, if only for a couple days, and he should start here. Declan Rice should be feeling refreshed after starting on the bench against Nottingham Forest, while this is a real opportunity for Ethan Nwaneri to impress Arteta with Martin Odegaard nursing a shoulder injury.

Noni Madueke has looked very impressive since signing from Chelsea and doesn't deserve to be dropped from his right wing position. Viktor Gyokeres will be hoping to score his first Champions League goal for the Gunners and in Athletic Club is playing a side he has already notched against in pre-season.

Who plays on the left wing is anyone's guess. Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard are real options but I'd opt for Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian needs a big performance and his pace and directness could pose a real threat.

Truelove's Arsenal XI vs Athletic Club: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi; Rice, Nwaneri; Madueke, Gyokeres, Martinelli

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