North London: Arsenal defeated by Borussia Dortmun...

By Rohan Gupta — 9 August 2026 — 4 min read

Match Overview

Arsenal faced a 3-2 defeat against Borussia Dortmund in the Emirates Cup, marking their first appearance at Emirates Stadium since being crowned Premier League champions. This loss followed a previous pre-season defeat, raising concerns about the team’s defensive performance ahead of their upcoming fixtures.

The scoring began with Samuele Inacio putting Dortmund ahead. This was followed by a second goal from Konstantino Karetsas. Arsenal managed to pull one back through substitute Ethan Nwaneri, assisted by Christos Tzolis. However, Joane Gadou extended Dortmund’s lead to 3-1. Viktor Gyokeres scored Arsenal’s second goal from a penalty after Tzolis was fouled.

Despite the match result, both teams had pre-arranged to practice penalties. Arsenal emerged victorious in the shootout, with successful conversions from Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Piero Hincapie, Gabriel Martinelli, and Nwaneri.

Team Performances and Manager’s Comments

Several Arsenal players were assessed for their performances. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was substituted at half-time, having conceded two goals. Ben White, an England international, was noted for his fitness and sharpness during his time on the pitch. Cristhian Mosquera was involved in Dortmund’s opening goal, with Inacio scoring after running off him.

Gabriel Magalhaes made his first pre-season start after returning from the World Cup, receiving a yellow card for a foul on Karetsas. Riccardo Calafiori, the left-back, was caught high up the pitch, leading to Dortmund’s second goal. Myles Lewis-Skelly, a 19-year-old, had a less impactful game despite a good pre-season.

Captain Martin Odegaard played his first pre-season minutes since returning from the World Cup, showing some bright moments before being substituted after 30 minutes. Kai Havertz played in midfield but did not get much involvement. Max Dowman, a 16-year-old, demonstrated quality on the ball and set up Gyokeres, whose effort hit the crossbar.

Christos Tzolis delivered several good set-pieces and assisted Nwaneri’s goal, later winning a penalty. Viktor Gyokeres displayed effort but lacked quality, though he converted a penalty in the second half. Among the substitutes, Ethan Nwaneri, a 19-year-old, scored to bring Arsenal back into the match and forced a save from the Dortmund goalkeeper.

Illan Meslier came on at half-time and made a save, but the rebound led to Dortmund’s third goal. Piero Hincapie was introduced at the hour mark to build up his pre-season minutes. Marli Salmon, a 16-year-old, played at centre-back, impressing with a header and tackles. Other substitutes included Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Ife Ibrahim, Theo Julienne, Josh Ogunnaike, and Ceadach O’Neill, with varying degrees of impact due to disrupted game flow.

Manager Mikel Arteta expressed dissatisfaction with the loss, acknowledging the need for improvement and more minutes for certain players. He noted that conceding “poor goals” was a collective responsibility that the team needs to address, particularly after similar defensive issues in a previous match against Real Betis.

Defensive Concerns and Upcoming Fixtures

Arsenal’s defensive performance has become a point of discussion, especially after conceding three goals in back-to-back pre-season friendlies. This contrasts with their record since December 2023, where they had only conceded three goals in a match once before. The team’s defence, even with their first-choice available back four, appeared open, with three goals conceded from outside the box and two from defensive corners across recent matches.

The absence of players like William Saliba due to injury and Jurrien Timber, who is weeks away from returning from a groin issue, has highlighted potential vulnerabilities. The club has shown interest in defensive reinforcements, with reports linking them to Ezri Konsa and Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero.

Despite the defensive concerns, there were positive aspects, including the performances of Christos Tzolis, Martin Odegaard’s chance creation, and the contributions of Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri. Arsenal welcomed new signing Bruno Guimaraes to the Emirates pitch before kick-off. The full squad, including World Cup winners and England players, is expected to return to training soon, which Arteta hopes will help address the current issues.

The team’s pre-season schedule included a 3-0 win against MK Dons, a 4-1 victory over Girona, and a 3-1 loss to Real Betis. Arsenal’s next fixture is against Como at Emirates Stadium on August 12, followed by the Community Shield match against Manchester City in Cardiff on August 16.