3 talking points ahead of Athletic Bilbao v Arsenal Champions League clash

The three main talking points as Arsenal travel to Spain for the first match of their Champions League campaign against Athletic Bilbao tonight
Arsenal v Leeds United - Premier League
Arsenal v Leeds United - Premier League | Visionhaus/GettyImages
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2. Arteta must rotate his squad

Mikel Arteta
Arsenal FC Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 | Harry Murphy/GettyImages

Blessed with so many options, Arteta must begin to rotate his squad as the games come thicker and faster heading into the winter.

Injuries to key players could be avoided if Arteta is able to trust in the depth of his squad. The likes of Christian Norgaard and Piero Hincapié are yet to make their full Arsenal debuts and both need minutes on the pitch.

Resisting the temptation to overplay Noni Madueke, who continues to deputise for Bukayo Saka, is an example of how Arteta could make full use of his squad. With Manchester City on the horizon, Arteta will need a fully fit Madueke available.