Arsenal received a huge boost on Saturday as three key members of the first team returned from injury.
Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori all came back from recent setbacks to be named in the starting lineup for their final pre-season friendly, against Athletic Club de Bilbao at the Emirates Stadium.
Leandro Trossard, however, was not named in the matchday squad as he continues his recovery from a muscle injury he sustained against Tottenham Hotspur in Hong Kong last month. Gabriel Jesus remains out with a long term ACL injury.
Kai Havertz was named on the bench after missing the midweek fixture against Villarreal as a precaution, suggesting he will be fit for their Premier League curtain raiser against Manchester United next weekend.
Elsewhere, Viktor Gyokeres was handed another start for the Emirates Cup clash with Athletic in north London. It’s his third appearance for the Gunners since his £63.5 million transfer from Sporting CP.
The Swedish striker netted his first goal for Arsenal with a 35th-minute header before Bukayo Saka doubled their lead moments later.
GYOKERES!!
The Swede guides Zubimendi's cross home with an inch-perfect header 💥
🔴 1-0 🔵 (36) pic.twitter.com/bqUph7Wjcn
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 9, 2025
Fellow summer signing Martin Zubimendi was also named in the starting XI, which is more or less their strongest lineup.
Arsenal XI versus Athletic Club following triple injury boost:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
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