Here is important information about this match, according to the homepage of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).
The opening match of the two teams in the Champions League
Athletic Bilbao have lost just two of their nine home games against English clubs (W4 D3) in the European Cup, although one of those defeats came in their most recent match, when they lost 0-3 to Man United in the first leg of last season's UEFA Europa League semi-finals.
Arsenal have won their last five games against Spanish sides, including all three in the 2024-25 Champions League. They beat Girona 2-1 in the group stage, then beat Real Madrid 3-0 and 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
The Gunners (Arsenal's nickname) have won 7 of their last 9 matches against Liga opponents in the Champions League, both at home and away (D1, L1).
Last season, Arsenal reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. But was later left out by PSG. As for Athletic Bilbao, they also reached the Europa League semi-finals, but lost to Man United with a total score of 1-7.
figures on Athletic Bilbao
This is Athletic's first season in the Champions League since the 2014-2015 season. The only time they participated in the previous European No. 1 club tournament was in the 1998-1999 season.
It reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup in the 2016-1950 season, but overall the Basque team did not have a good record when going to the continent, having won only 3 out of 12 matches in the Champions League (4 draws, 5 losses).
In the opening matches of the UEFA Champions League in the 1998-1999 and 2014-2015 seasons, Athletic Bilbao drew both times.
Last season, Athletic won their first six home games in the Europa League, including all four in the group stage before losing 3-0 in the first leg of the semi-final to Man United, leading to a 1-7 final loss.
Notable figures about Arsenal
Last season, the Gunners reached the semi-finals - their best record in the competition since 2008-09 - before losing 1-3 to then-champion Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their opening eight Champions League or Europa League seasons, since a 1-2 loss to Dinamo's imports in the 2015-16 Champions League.
Main statistics
Athletic have won 14 of their last 18 home games in Europe.
Arsenal have won 16 of their last 22 group stage games in the Champions League, losing just two.
The London club have lost just one of their eight group stage games last season, winning six of their last four.
Arsenal have kept a clean sheet 7 times in the last 11 matches in the group stage/match.
Viktor Gyökeres, an Arsenal striker, has scored six goals in six Champions League appearances for Sporting CP last season.
Bukayo Saka has scored ten goals in his first 18 appearances in the Champions League. The only English player to have scored more in the same period is Harry Kane (14 goals). However, Saka will not play against Athletic Bilbao due to injury.
The Athletic Bilbao vs Arsenal match will take place at 11:45 p.m. on September 16, at San Mames Stadium.
