Arsenal lineup vs. Athletic Bilbao confirmed as Mikel Arteta makes 'belated' Max Dowman decision for Emirates Cup

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta names close to his strongest starting XI for Saturday's Emirates Cup clash with Athletic Bilbao, but teenage star Max Dowman is not involved.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has named close to his strongest starting XI for Saturday's Emirates Cup clash with Athletic Bilbao, but teenage star Max Dowman is not involved.

The 15-year-old phenom continued his standout pre-season in the 3-2 loss to Villarreal in midweek, winning his second penalty in three games for Martin Odegaard to convert after his introduction.

Dowman also earned a spot kick against Newcastle United in the Gunners' pre-season tour of Asia, but the 2009-born starlet will not be making his first non-competitive start for the club here.

Arsenal have confirmed that Dowman is enjoying some 'belated' time off after his introduction into first-team football, so Bukayo Saka holds his spot on the right-hand side of an unchanged front three.

Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli will continue alongside the England international, meaning that Noni Madueke will also have to wait a little while longer to make his full debut for the three-time Premier League winners.

Arteta makes six changes for Arsenal vs. Athletic Bilbao

However, it is all change in midfield, as Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino and Christian Norgaard make way for the trio of Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice, who are expected to be Arteta's first-choice lynchpins in 2025-26.

Arteta has also made three changes at the back, as Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber come in for Jakub Kiwior and Ben White, despite only just returning from long-term injuries.

William Saliba and David Raya will reprise their roles in defence, but Myles Lewis-Skelly has also been demoted to the bench as Riccardo Calafiori starts at left-back following his recovery from injury.

Kai Havertz is also on the bench after shaking off a knock of his own, but Leandro Trossard is not involved as he works his way back from the groin problem he picked up in Asia.

Albert Sambi Lokonga and Reiss Nelson are among the replacements once again despite the expectation that both will leave the club, but Fabio Vieira and Karl Hein have both been omitted ahead of likely exits.

Meanwhile, former Gunners target Nico Williams has been named in the starting XI for Athletic Bilbao, as has his brother Inaki Williams.

Arsenal starting XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli

Subs: Kepa, Rojas, White, Mosquera, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Lokonga, Merino, Madueke, Nwaneri, Nelson, Havertz

Athletic starting XI: Simon; Areso, Vivian, Lekue, Berchiche; Galaretta, Jaurezigar; I. Williams, Gomez, N. Williams; Berenguer

Subs: Padilla, Gorosabel, Vesga, Guruzeta, Maroan, Navarro, Rego, Adama, Serrano, De Luis, Izeta

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