Arsenal vs Athletic Club LIVE
Arsenal have concluded their pre-season preparations by beating La Liga outfit Athletic Club in the Emirates Cup. The club's annual summer competition provided Gunners manager Mikel Arteta with one final chance to experiment with his tactics and personnel ahead of the Premier League opener away at Manchester United next weekend.
A summer that began with real promise took a dip in the middle but has ended on a high note with the north London outfit saving their best performance until last. While results are never the main focus in pre-season, the Gunners did suffer back-to-back losses ahead of the game so returning to winning ways should provide a welcome confidence boost ahead of the trip to Old Trafford.
The first-ever meeting between the two sides saw Arsenal emerge 3-0 winners in normal time and 6-5 winners in the penalty shootout. Big-money summer signing Viktor Gyokeres opened his account for his new club, while Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz also scored. Follow the game back below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium!
Arsenal vs Athletic Club latest news
- Arsenal win penalty shootout!
- GOAL! Havertz scores brilliant goal
- GOAL! Saka adds a second
- GOAL! Gyokeres breaks the deadlock
Arsenal cruise to win
19:18 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal warmed up for Manchester United by beating Athletic Club to clinch the Emirates Cup on Saturday.
Big money summer signing Viktor Gyokeres got off the mark with a brilliant header in the first-half and further goals from Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz ensured the Gunners were crowned winners of the annual summer competition once again.
In Arsenal’s final friendly before the 2025-26 Premier League campaign gets underway, Mikel Arteta named a team that could very well take to the pitch at Old Trafford next weekend.
Read our match report right here!
Emirates Cup winners
19:14 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne
Arsenal player ratings
19:13 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMartin Zubimendi 9 | Star player
A majestic display at the base of midfield. Such a classy player and just didn’t seem to put a foot wrong all game. Created Gyokeres’ goal with a stunning cross.
Declan Rice 7
Dovetailed nicely with Zubimendi and played much deeper than he did last season. Found Saka repeatedly with some great passes from deep.
Bukayo Saka 8
Super sharp, right from the off, and terrorised his full-back. Got the goal his performance deserved and assisted Havertz for Arsenal’s third.
Click here for our Arsenal player ratings in full!
Trophy presentation
19:06 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMartin Odegaard lifts the Emirates Cup!
Penalties - Arsenal 6-5 Athletic Club
19:01 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneZubimendi with the chance to win the shootout and he does!
Penalties - Arsenal 5-5 Athletic Club
19:01 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneRaya saves!
Penalties - Arsenal 5-5 Athletic Club
19:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSaliba scores!
Penalties - Arsenal 4-5 Athletic Club
18:59 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneLekue with an emphatic penalty.
Penalties - Arsenal 4-4 Athletic Club
18:58 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSaka finds the corner! Sudden death now.
Penalties - Arsenal 3-4 Athletic Club
18:58 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneRobert Navarro misses!
Penalties - Arsenal 3-4 Athletic Club
18:57 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneNwaneri is the first to miss!
Penalties - Arsenal 3-4 Athletic Club
18:56 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneNico Serrano scores!
Penalties - Arsenal 3-3 Athletic Club
18:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneNoni Madueke scores!
Penalties - Arsenal 2-3 Athletic Club
18:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneVesga scores for Athletic.
Penalties - Arsenal 2-2 Athletic Club
18:54 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneKai Havertz sends the keeper the wrong way and we are all square again.
Penalties - Arsenal 1-2 Athletic Club
18:54 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneRobert Navarro puts Athletic Club back ahead.
Penalties - Arsenal 1-1 Athletic Club
18:53 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMerino equalises for Arsenal in the shootout.
Penalties - Arsenal 0-1 Athletic Club
18:52 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAthletic go first and Guruzeta scores!
Arsenal 3-0 Athletic Club
18:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneGetting word that a penalty shootout will follow!
FULL-TIME
18:49 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal 3-0 Athletic Club
A comfortable win for the Gunners. Goals from Viktor Gyokeres, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz earn another Emirates Cup win.
Arsenal 3-0 Athletic Club
18:47 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne88 min: Saka is put clean through and the flag stays down. Unusually for the Arsenal winger, he is caught in two minds and loses the chance to add a fourth goal.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
18:42 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThat is the sort of goal Gyokeres would normally score...
Arsenal 3-0 Athletic Club
18:42 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne83 min: Double change for Arsenal as Ethan Nwaneri and Mikel Merino replace Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard for the final seven minutes.
GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Athletic Club | Kai Havertz ‘82
18:40 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne82 min: Arsenal have a third and it’s Kai Havertz with the goal.
A brilliant run and finish from the German.
Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
18:38 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne80 min: Rice completely makes a mess of the short corner but makes amends by chasing back 70 yards to win the ball back.
Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
18:37 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne79 min: Nwaneri is being readied by Arsenal, but first Rice stands over a corner.
Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
18:37 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne78 min: Triple change for the visitors sees De Luis, Rego and Nico Serrano take to the field.
Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
18:35 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne76 min: The game is just petering out a touch, Arsenal are almost in walking pace. They do speed it up with some intricate play but Havertz can’t turn the ball into the net.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
18:28 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneA standing ovation for Gyokeres as he comes off. Feels like he could have done enough today to ensure he starts at Old Trafford next week.
Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
18:27 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne69 min: And that is it for Gyokeres. The Swede is replaced by Kai Havertz.
Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
18:26 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne68 min: Yellow card for Lewis-Skelly as he fouls Berenguer.
Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
18:23 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne66 min: Details of Athletic Club’s triple change.
ON: Gorosabel, Guruzeta and Adama
OFF: N.Williams, Yuri and Areso
Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
18:21 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne63 min: Here come a flurry of changes from both teams.
Arsenal’s changes see Gabriel and Timber replaced by Lewis-Skelly and Mosquera.
Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
18:19 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne61 min: POST!
Gyokeres is close to adding a second but his header hits the woodwork. Really good effort after a fine cross from Madueke.
Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
18:17 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne58 min: Arsenal look to break as Madueke feeds Gyokeres who flicks the ball on for Rice whose run is halted by Vivian. No free-kick awarded, but looks to have been the right decision.
Tell that to the supporters who booed the referee!
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
18:14 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMadueke has been bright in these first 10 minutes, repeatedly looking to get at his full-back. Arsenal look dangerous with a natural left footer on that flank.
Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
18:14 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne55 min: White’s deep cross just evades the head of Timber. Madueke floats the ball to the back post looking for Saka who can’t make contact.
Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
18:10 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne51 min: First opportunity for Madueke to run at his marker and he gets to the byline but his cross is cut out for a corner.
Rice swings the ball in, Gabriel cushions a header back for Timber who somehow heads over from close range.
Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
18:07 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne49 min: Maroan and Vesga have replaced I.Williams and Galaretta for the visitors.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
18:03 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneInteresting that Timber is now at left-back. There is an argument, for some games, he could start there and White on the other flank.
KICK-OFF!
18:02 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneBack underway at the Emirates.
Ben White and Noni Madueke are on for the second half, they have replaced Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Martinelli.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
17:48 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal's best half of football this pre-season. Zubimendi has been so good at the base of midfield, dictating play.
Gyokeres up and running with a great header, and Saka deservedly on the scoresheet, too. Arteta will be very happy.
HALF-TIME
17:47 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
Viktor Gyokeres off the mark for Arsenal, Bukayo Saka doubled the lead minutes later and the Gunners are in complete control at the break.
Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club
17:43 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne41 min: Athletic have been stunned by those two goals in quick succession. Arsenal look like a team that know they can run up a big scoreline today.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
17:39 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWhat a bullet header that was from Gyokeres - and suddenly his confidence is flowing.
GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Athletic Club | Bukayo Saka ‘37
17:39 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne37 min: Just like that, the Gunners are two up as Bukayo Saka finishes off a fine team move.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Athletic Club | Viktor Gyokeres ‘35
17:36 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne35 min: Deadlock broken and it's Viktor Gyokeres with the goal. Fine header from Martin Zubimendi's cross.
Arsenal 0-0 Athletic Club
17:34 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne33 min: Lekue’s clearance loops up and there was a moment of panic for the Athletic Club defender but the ball goes out for a corner.
Arsenal 0-0 Athletic Club
17:32 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne30 min: Calafiori, leaning back, skies one over the bar after being teed up by Gyokeres. Good build up from Arsenal, Martinelli involved down the left too.
Arsenal 0-0 Athletic Club
17:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne29 min: Not a good corner delivery from Rice as he gets too much on the cross and the ball bounces on top of the net.
Arsenal 0-0 Athletic Club
17:30 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne28 min: Free-kick opportunity for Arsenal, Rice swings the ball in but it’s a Athletic Club head that meets it first.
Gunners do have a corner though.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
17:26 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneZubimendi just look so, so classy on the ball. Feels like he has more time on the ball than any other player on the pitch.
Arsenal 0-0 Athletic Club
17:26 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne25 min: Robert Navarro has replaced Unai for the visitors.
Arsenal 0-0 Athletic Club
17:25 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne24 min: Unai is forced off early. Not clear as to what happened to the Athletic Club midfielder.
Arsenal 0-0 Athletic Club
17:22 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne20 min: More combination play from Arsenal down the right as Saka gets to the byline and cuts the ball back for Gyokeres but the Swede doesn’t make a clean enough connection and it’s an easy save for Unai Simon.
Arsenal 0-0 Athletic Club
17:17 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne16 min: Great chance for the visitors as Calafiori gifts the ball to Galarreta in the area but the midfielder’s shot lacks any real power and direction, leaving Raya with a routine save.
Massive let-off for Arsenal.
Arsenal 0-0 Athletic Club
17:15 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne14 min: Slight concern for Arsenal as Timber is struggling. The Dutchman slipped when trying to get on the end of Odegaard’s pass.
He is back on his feet, but doesn’t look comfortable.
Arsenal 0-0 Athletic Club
17:14 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne13 min: That is two set-piece situations that have been wasted already by Arsenal. This time, Saka floats one in the air and Unai Simon plucks the ball out of the air.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
17:13 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSaka has looked really bright so far and is causing his opposite man so many problems. Rice has been looking for Saka whenever he has picked the ball up from deep.
Arsenal 0-0 Athletic Club
17:11 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne10 min: Sloppy from Timber as he loses the ball in a dangerous position and space opens up for Berenguer who shoots straight at Raya.
Down the other end, Martinelli shoots wide after the visitors gave the ball away cheaply.
Arsenal 0-0 Athletic Club
17:07 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne6 min: Bukayo Saka does superbly down the right but elects to shoot from an acute angle and Unai Simon makes the save.
Arsenal 0-0 Athletic Club
17:05 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne4 min: Encouraging play from Arsenal down the right as Odegaard slips in Saka who cuts the ball back for Martinelli but the Brazilian is beaten to the ball by a Athletic Club player before the corner is wasted.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
17:03 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWhole feel of this friendly feels much more like a 'proper game'. Bilbao just had a player booked inside 90 seconds.
Arsenal 0-0 Athletic Club
17:03 , Tashan Deniran-Alleyne1 min: 65 seconds in and Yuri is booked for bringing down Gyokeres.
KICK-OFF!
17:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWe are underway in this Emirates Cup clash.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
16:59 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe atmosphere today feels much more lively than Wednesday evening. Viktor Gyokeres' name gets a massive cheer as it is read out.
HERE WE GO!
16:57 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneRight then, the two teams have emerged from the tunnel!
Kick-off is just moments away.
How Manchester United fared today
16:50 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal’s opponents on the opening weekend of the season, Manchester United wrapped up their pre-season with an entertaining 1-1 draw against Fiorentina at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Ahead of kick-off, United presented summer signings Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon to fans.
Madueke on the bench again
16:45 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal summer signing Noni Madueke is named among the substitutes once again. He will be looking to get some more minutes into his legs at some point today.
Not long now!
16:40 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneJust under 20 minutes until we are underway in Arsenal’s final pre-season test of the summer.
Can the Gunners return to winning ways after suffering back-to-back losses at the hands of Tottenham and Villarreal?
Dowman absence explained
16:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneMax Dowman is not in the Arsenal matchday squad today because he has been given some belated time off.
Team news reminder
16:30 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHere is how both teams will line-up today.
Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard (C), Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Substitutes: Kepa, Rojas, White, Mosquera, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Lokonga, Merino, Madueke, Nwaneri, Nelson, Havertz
Athletic Club XI: Unai Simon; Areso, Vivian, Lekue, Yuri; Galaretta, Jauregizar; I.Williams, Unai, N.Williams; Berenguer
Substitutes: Padilla, Gorosabel, Vesga, Guruzeta, Maroan, Robert Navarro, Rego, Adama, Nico Serrano, De Luis, Izeta
Nico Williams starts
16:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHeavily linked with a move to Arsenal earlier in the summer before signing a new contract with his boyhood club, Nico Williams starts at the Emirates Stadium today!
Athletic Club team in full
16:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAthletic Club XI: Unai Simon; Areso, Vivian, Lekue, Yuri; Galaretta, Jauregizar; I.Williams, Unai, N.Williams; Berenguer
Substitutes: Padilla, Gorosabel, Vesga, Guruzeta, Maroan, Robert Navarro, Rego, Adama, Nico Serrano, De Luis, Izeta
CONFIRMED ATHLETIC CLUB XI
16:15 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneAnd lining up for the visitors...
📋 𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗢́𝗡 🆚 @Arsenal
— Athletic Club (@AthleticClub) August 9, 2025
1- Unai Simón
37- Areso
3- Vivian
15- I. Lekue
17- Yuri B.
16- Galarreta
18- Jauregizar
9- I. Williams
20- Unai G.
10- Nico Williams
7- Berenguer#ArsenalAthletic #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/4vD4Diwlmo
Arsenal team news reaction
16:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSimon Collings is in position for us at the Emirates Stadium and has delivered his reaction to the Arsenal team news!
🗣 "I think you could possibly say that will be the team that starts at Old Trafford next week."@sr_collings gives his thoughts on the Arsenal line-up!
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) August 9, 2025
LIVE: https://t.co/PMupJ7yAfa#ARSATH | #EmiratesCup pic.twitter.com/bm8nJttKjA
Arsenal changes
16:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIn total, Mikel Arteta has made six changes to the starting XI for this evening’s Emirates Cup clash against Athletic Club.
The Gunners are boosted by the returns of Gabriel, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, while Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Martin Zubimendi start in midfield.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
16:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThat is a very strong XI for Arsenal, quite possibly their team for Old Trafford next week. Excited to see the midfield trio of Odegaard, Rice and Zubimendi.
CONFIRMED ARSENAL XI
15:55 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHere is the Arsenal team that Mikel Arteta has selected for this evening's Emirates Cup clash...
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 9, 2025
🔙 Gabriel returns to partner Saliba
⚖️ Zubimendi in the middle
©️ Odegaard skippers the side
Let's do this, Gunners ✊ | Watch LIVE on https://t.co/4KJlfKW7rt
Arsenal team in full
15:54 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard (C), Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Substitutes: Kepa, Rojas, White, Mosquera, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Lokonga, Merino, Madueke, Nwaneri, Nelson, Havertz
Team news on the way
15:43 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneWe are expecting team news to be announced any minute now.
Stay tuned...
Arrivals
15:42 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHere is William Saliba, Gabriel, Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka arriving at the Emirates Stadium earlier.
Gyokeres hope
15:40 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneIs Viktor Gyokeres the man who can win the title for Arsenal?
Simon Collings has asked the question as following 18 months crying out for a striker, the Gunners finally have their man after paying Sporting CP £64 million.
The question now is whether Gyokeres can be the final piece in Arsenal’s jigsaw, after three consecutive seasons of finishing runners-up in the Premier League.
The prize
15:35 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneHere is what the winners of this afternoon’s showdown will lift afterwards...
Nwaneri signs!
15:30 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal have confirmed that Ethan Nwaneri has signed a new long-term contract with the club.
Amid links with Chelsea, the youngster has ended speculation over his future by signing a five-year extension, tying himself to the club until 2030.
As reported by Standard Sport last month, Arsenal made tying down Nwaneri to a new contract one of their priorities going into this summer, along with renewals for Bukayo Saka, Gabriel, Myles Lewis-Skelly and William Saliba.
Athletic Club's pre-season results
15:25 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe La Liga outfit have lost five of their six pre-season outings thus far, including back-to-back losses to Liverpool at Anfield on Monday.
Their only win thus far came against SD Ponferradina.
Arsenal's pre-season so far
15:20 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe Gunners beat AC Milan and Newcastle in the first two games of their Asia pre-season tour but lost to rivals Tottenham in the first-ever north London derby held outside of the UK.
Then on Wednesday they were beaten at home by Villarreal.
Predicted Arsenal XI
15:15 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneGabriel and Jurrien Timber are pushing to start against Bilbao after making their first appearances of pre-season off the bench on Wednesday.
Midfielders Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Martin Zubimendi all came off the bench in that game, too, but they may start together as a trio for the first time this afternoon.
In attack, Viktor Gyokeres will be eager to start and get more minutes under his belt ahead of next week’s trip to Old Trafford.
Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli
Today's settings
15:10 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneThe Emirates Stadium is looking resplendent once again ahead of kick-off.
Arsenal vs Athletic Club match odds
15:05 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneArsenal to win: 4/11
Athletic Club to win: 9/2
Draw: 13/5
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
Arsenal vs Athletic Club: Head to head (h2h) history and results
15:00 , Tashan Deniran-AlleyneSaturday’s pre-season friendly will be the first-ever meeting between these two sides.
That means there’s no head-to-head history to call back to, only a slice of history for whoever grabs the win.
Score prediction
14:56 , Alex YoungPre-season form has waned for both of these teams recently, and there is little time to correct that before they begin their respective Premier League and La Liga campaigns.
However, Arsenal will be boosted by a slew of first-team players returning from injury, while summer signings like Gyokeres should benefit from having more matchday minutes to gel with his new team-mates.
Combined with a home crowd and years-long win Emirates Cup streak, that all should be enough of an advantage for the Gunners to get past last season’s fourth-ranked Spanish side and return to winning ways ahead of their season-opening trip to Old Trafford.
Arsenal to win, 3-1.
Early Athletic Club team news
14:49 , Alex YoungFor the visitors, Inaki Williams should start alongside his younger brother and one-time Arsenal target Nico after the latter signed a new long-term contract to stay in Bilbao.
The Basque club’s famous locals-only transfer policy means they’ve had a typically quiet summer in terms of incomings, aside from bringing in new right-back Jesus Areso from Osasuna. The Spaniard is a likely part of the backline protecting Spain No1 Unai Simon, with veteran left-back Yuri Berchiche the usual go-to on the opposite side.
Attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet, who scored against Liverpool, is expected to miss out with a knee injury sustained at Anfield, while central defender Unai Egiluz will join him on the sidelines.
Early Arsenal team news
14:42 , Alex YoungSide-lined trio of Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori may be fit in time to play a part despite missing varying durations of pre-season through injury including Wednesday’s loss to Villareal.
Gabriel Jesus, however, is expected to remain out as he continues to rehabilitate his ACL. That, in theory, should leave the path clear for Viktor Gyokeres to start a second straight match for the Gunners as the Swedish striker seeks his first Arsenal goal.
Fellow new arrival Christian Norgaard will hope his midweek goal against Villareal will boost his chances of starting again this weekend, while ex-Chelsea man Noni Madueke is also in the frame after coming off the bench in that game and could step in for Gabriel Martinelli. Norgaard faces comparatively more competition in the middle of the park, where the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Ethan Nwaneri and Mikel Merino - the only man to play all 90 minutes on Wednesday - are all vying for game time.
As usual when he’s available, star man Bukayo Saka should occupy the right wing slot. Arsenal fans will be intrigued to see what role standout youngster Max Dowman plays going forward, meanwhile.
At the back, William Saliba should remain a mainstay in front of first-choice shot-stopper David Raya, and may be partnered by Jakub Kiwior or newcomer Cristhian Mosquera unless usual running mate Gabriel is deemed fit enough to start following his return from injury.
Ben White has started four matches in a row at right-back while positional rival Jurrien Timber recovered from injury, although the Dutchman appeared off the bench during the week. On the opposite flank, Myles Lewis-Skelly would appear to be the more likely starter as Calafiori eases back into action.
Where to watch Arsenal vs Athletic Club
14:35 , Alex YoungTV channel: The game will not be shown live on terrestrial television in the UK.
Live stream: However, the action will be streamed live via Arsenal’s official website and app, with the club’s platform carrying replays and highlights as well.
Pay-per-view access is available starting at £4.99 on an early bird deal valid until 9am on Saturday; after that, on-the-day access will cost £6.99.
Welcome
14:29 , Alex YoungGood afternoon and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Emirates Cup clash between Arsenal and Athletic Club.
It’s set to be a balmy afternoon and then evening in north London as the Gunners complete their pre-season preparations ahead of the new Premier League season.
Kick-off is at 5pm BST. Stick with us.
