Athletic Club manager Ernesto Valverde has placed Mikel Arteta among the elite of European coaches as his side prepare to face Arsenal in the Champions League.
The encounter marks the opening fixture of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League league phase and will be the first competitive meeting between the two clubs.
For Athletic, it is a particularly poignant occasion, as they return to Europe’s top competition after an 11-year absence. The atmosphere in Bilbao is expected to be electric, with fans viewing the match as a landmark moment in the club’s modern history.
Valverde was candid in his assessment of the challenge ahead, admitting his side would need a flawless display to compete with Arsenal. He even went so far as to rank Arteta’s team alongside the very best in Spain, praising the Gunners’ recent progress under the Basque coach.
“When you’re playing against one of the favourites to win the competition and the Premier League, you have to be very careful, take advantage of your opportunities and not concede too many,” said Valverde.
“They have a very high pace, which pushes you towards your goal. It’s like when Real Madrid or Barcelona come to us, with this type of team, you’ll have to try to put on a perfect performance.
“One of the world’s best coaches, surely? What he is doing at Arsenal proves it.
“I do not say it just because Arsenal have great players, but because of what they do, how they play, their spirit, how they press you, how they do not let you play, how insistent they are in each duel.
“And then, at the time of the game, with the technical quality they have, it is difficult to press them high, because they have the resources to go out and play in the space.”
Both teams come into the tie with strong domestic form. Arsenal have won three of their opening four Premier League matches, including a commanding 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest last weekend.
Athletic share the same early record in La Liga, though they suffered their first defeat of the campaign in a narrow 1-0 loss to Deportivo Alaves.
