(4-3-2-1) Dowman replaces Saka, Madueke replaces Martinelli, Gyokeres to lead the attack”, Predicted Arsenal line up vs Ath bibao – As Mikel Arteta makes Five changes from the XI that lost to Villarreal
(4-3-2-1) Dowman replaces Saka, Madueke replaces Martinelli, Gyokeres to lead the attack”, Predicted Arsenal line up vs Ath bibao – As Mikel Arteta makes Five changes from the XI that lost to Villarreal
Arsenal could lift a trophy at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, albeit a friendly one, as the Gunners seek to defend their Emirates Cup crown against Athletic Bilbao in their last pre-season game of the summer.
Mikel Arteta’s men have several wrongs to write after successive defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Villarreal, although their visitors are on an even more disheartening run, losing five straight exhibition games.
Match preview
Before visiting the red half of North London on Wednesday evening, Spanish giants Villarreal had failed to win any of their first six friendly matches this summer, but Arsenal’s disjointed defence was carved open at will by Nicolas Pepe and co.
The Gunners’ former record signing drew first blood for the Yellow Submarine before further strikes from Karl Etta Eyong, Christian Norgaard, Arnaut Danjuma and Martin Odegaard in a five-goal thriller, one in which Arsenal came out on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline.
A 4-3 penalty shootout loss to Marcelino’s side rubbed salt into the wounds for the Emirates faithful as they witnessed an uncharacteristically incoherent rearguard display from the Gunners, whose long-standing creative problems also came to the fore on several occasions.
Another dazzling display from 15-year-old Max Dowman – who won yet another penalty for Odegaard to convert – was one of the few positives for Arteta on a day where Viktor Gyokeres struggled to impact proceedings on his first start, and Arsenal’s new boys have just one more warm-up match to acclimatise to their surroundings before the serious business begins.
A regular pre-season tradition since 2007, each of the last three editions of the Emirates Cup has been won by Arsenal, who thumped Sevilla 6-0 in 2022, edged out Monaco on penalties in 2023 and sank Lyon 2-0 in last year’s contest.
While Spanish sides have frequented the Emirates Cup down the years, only Valencia in 2014 have hoisted the trophy aloft, and Athletic Bilbao will be making their inaugural appearance at the pre-season tournament this weekend.
However, while Arsenal may be lamenting back-to-back losses over the past week and a half, the Basque outfit have endured a horrific five-match run of consecutive defeats, including two on the same day to Liverpool on Monday.
Ernesto Valverde’s men were slain by a combined scoreline of 7-3 by the Premier League champions – losing 4-1 and 3-2 at Anfield – while Racing Santander, PSV Eindhoven and Alaves have also bested Athletic since a 1-0 triumph over Ponferradina in mid-July.
Saturday’s challengers may be suffering defeat after defeat on the pitch, but they secured one of the biggest wins off the pitch earlier this summer by tying Nico Williams down an astounding 10-year contract renewal, ending Arsenal and Barcelona’s hopes of a blockbuster deal for the winger.
The Euro 2024 winner will still head to the Emirates to line up in his current shade of red and white, as Athletic aim to salvage some pride from a pitiful pre-season before hosting Sevilla in their La Liga opener on August 17.
Swedish sensation Gyokeres made his unofficial full debut for Arsenal on Wednesday thanks to Kai Havertz’s unexpected absence with a minor injury, but Arteta is confident that the German will be up and running by the weekend.
The same goes for Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard, who picked up problems during the Gunners’ pre-season tour of Asia, but ACL victim Gabriel Jesus is still months away from a comeback.
The much-maligned Noni Madueke endured a forgettable Arsenal debut – missing the hosts’ final penalty against Villarreal – but it would still not be a surprise to see the former Chelsea man come into the XI here.
In keeping with their Basque-only policy, Athletic Bilbao’s summer transfer window has been traditionally quiet on the incomings front, although they did shell out £10.5m to sign right-back Jesus Areso from Osasuna.
The Spaniard has arrived to succeed Athletic legend Oscar de Marcos, who retired at the end of last season following a 16-year spell at San Mames, and he should be part of a rearguard protecting Spain number one Unai Simon.
Further forward, the Williams brothers should start in tandem in the attacking third, lining up either side of heralded playmaker Oihan Sancet.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; White, Saliba, Mosquera, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Madueke
Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Simon; Areso, Vivian, Lekue, Berchiche; Jauregizar, Vesga; I. Williams, Sancet, N. Williams; Guruzeta
