Arsenal 2-3 Borussia Dortmund
The top team in the country have just got stronger. It’s quite a statement with just under a fortnight until the big kick-off.
But that is what you do when you make a statement signing.
Arsenal have done exactly that with this weekend’s capture of Bruno Guimaraes.
Parting with £75 million for a 29 year-old will raise questions among some critics but there is no doubting the quality of the Brazilian international who was Newcastle’s captain.
That the Magpies were willing to allow him to become their latest high profile departure has been well documented.
The North Londoners have just had a boost – and their rivals a warning – before a ball has even been kicked.
The Emirates Cup was the first chance for the Gunners faithful to welcome him and celebrate their long awaited title triumph en masse.
And they duly did.
Highlights of the game
As for the match itself, there were only a few Emirates Cup 2026 highlights for them to enjoy. Indeed, the Emirates Cup 2026 betting odds were turned around pretty quickly as two youngsters shone for Borussia Dortmund.
Samuele Inacio opened the scoring early on with a neat finish before Konstantino Karetsas curled in an excellent second.
Home substitute Ethan Nwaneri pulled one back after some good work from Christos Tzolis.
Joane Gadou then scored what proved to be the match-winning third the visitors, who I don’t think will be in a position realistically to challenge for Bundesliga title next season, following a corner.
Swedish frontman Viktor Gyokeres did pull another back from the penalty spot after Tzolis was fouled, marking another impressive display from the new recruit.
Will Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta be worried about successive defeats?
This SBOTOP scribe doesn’t think so.
It says a lot that certain sections of the media are focusing on a statistic which shows that, since December 2023, Arsenal had only once conceded three goals in a match – a 3-2 loss to Manchester United in January (which ended a 121-match run without letting in three goals) – yet have now conceded three in back-to-back pre-season friendlies.
It is hardly the same; a friendly is just that and any manager up and down the country will tell you that pre-season results are secondary to player fitness and developing patterns of play.
There are still eight first-team players to come back and shore up the midfield, including Declan Rice and Guimaraes.
Granted, the North Londoners won’t want to be without two key defenders for too long with William Saliba out for unspecified time with a back injury sustained during the World Cup, while Dutchman Jurrien Timber is still weeks away from returning from his long-term groin issue.
They do have strength in depth though and will probably start the season as title favourites.
To emphasise the friendly nature of this occasion, both teams agreed to practice penalties after the match regardless of the result.
Arsenal lost the game, but won the penalty shootout.
The real action will begin shortly.
What’s next?
Arsenal have another home friendly against Como of Serie A on Wednesday (Aug 12) before next week’s Community Shield against Manchester City at Wembley.
Dortmund meet Roma next Saturday (Aug 15) at the Signal Iduna Park ahead of their German Super Cup opener a weekend later.
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