STARTER GUNS

THE Champions League is back in action on Tuesday, with Arsenal set to fire the Premier League’s first shots against Athletic Bilbao in Spain at 6.45pm. 

Coach Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, who reached the semi-finals of Europe’s top competition for the first time since 2009 last season before losing to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain, are looking to become the first team in history to win six consecutive matches against Spanish spanne.

Taking the field on the back of two wins over Real Madrid, a double over Sevilla and a win against Girona, Arteta’s manne won’t be lacking in confidence – especially after klapping Nottingham Forest 3-0 in the league at the weekend. 

But a lack of silverware under Arteta is increasing the pressure on the coach and he knows it’s time to deliver. 

After spending a klomp geld to bring in the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze to bolster his attack, Arteta knows his manne must shoot to kill this season. In search of a first trophy since 2020, Arteta wysed: “It doesn’t matter what we want to do, it is what we have to do.” 

Meanwhile, Tottenham will also be in action on Tuesday, when they host Villarreal at 9pm. 

Spurs are set to be without forward Dominic Solanke, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury since featuring briefly in last month’s win over Manchester City.

Tuesday's Champions League fixtures: Athletic Bilbao v Arsenal, PSV v Union Saint-Gilloise (6.45pm), Juventus v Dortmund, Benfica v Qarabag, Real v Marseille, Spurs v Villareal (all 9pm)