Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Club friendly match.
Arsenal are set to take on Athletic Bilbao in their final pre-season fixture. The game will take place at the Emirates Stadium and, to give it added significance, has been designated as a trophy match. This means both sides will be aiming to finish their summer preparations with silverware.
Arsenal
Arsenal suffered a surprising 2:3 defeat to Villarreal in their most recent match. However, the underlying statistics indicate they had the upper hand, producing 1.78 xG compared to Villarreal’s 0.98. The defeat becomes more understandable when factoring in the experimental defensive set-up used on the day. On a positive note, Christian Nørgaard scored his first goal for the club and looked well-suited to his role within the midfield triangle.
Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao have endured a worrying pre-season run, losing five of their six friendly matches. Their lone win came against Ponferradina (1:0), a third-tier club. In their most recent outing, they narrowly lost 2:3 to Liverpool, though the scoreline flattered them. The expected goals tell a different story: Athletic Bilbao managed just 0.92 xG, while Liverpool generated 4.21 xG, highlighting the disparity in quality.
Arsenal vs Athletic Bilbao Prediction
There is a trophy at stake. While it might not hold much weight, every player on the pitch will be eager to lift it. Mikel Arteta is unlikely to rotate heavily and is expected to name a strong starting line-up. If that’s the case, Athletic Bilbao will likely find it difficult to match up, even hypothetically.
