Arsenal Faces Another Pre-Season Defeat Against Borussia Dortmund

Arsenal's pre-season continues to falter as they face a second consecutive loss, this time against Borussia Dortmund in the Emirates Cup. Despite attempts to recover from an early deficit, the team struggled defensively, leading to a 3-2 defeat. Manager Mikel Arteta acknowledges the need for improvement and player readiness ahead of the upcoming FA Community Shield against Manchester City. With key players still missing, the Gunners are under pressure to enhance their performance before the season kicks off. Read on to discover more about the match and Arteta's insights.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 9, 2026, 23:51 IST

Arsenal's Pre-Season Struggles Continue

London [UK], August 9: Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, experienced another disappointing pre-season match, suffering a second consecutive defeat against Borussia Dortmund during the Emirates Cup held at home on Sunday.

Despite their efforts to recover from an early 0-2 deficit, a goal from Joane Gadau in the 58th minute secured the victory for Dortmund. Earlier, Arsenal had lost 3-1 to Real Betis, following an impressive 4-1 win over Girona to kick off their pre-season.

Throughout the match, Arsenal had numerous opportunities, including a first-half shot from Viktor Gyokeres that struck the woodwork. Dortmund took the lead with goals from Samuele Inacio in the 7th minute and 18-year-old sensation Konstantinos Karetsas in the 29th minute.

In the second half, Ethan Nwaneri scored in the 54th minute, bringing Arsenal back into contention, but Gadau quickly restored Dortmund's two-goal advantage in the 58th minute.

Viktor managed to convert a penalty in the 69th minute, keeping Arsenal's hopes alive, but Borussia Dortmund maintained their lead until the final whistle.

With just a week remaining before the FA Community Shield clash against Manchester City, Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta have several areas to address.

After the match, Arteta expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, "We lost the game, and I’m obviously not happy about it. Improvements are necessary. Certain players need more minutes and rhythm, which will be beneficial."

He added, "It has to hurt, whether it’s a friendly or a test match. We recognize our current position and acknowledge that we are still missing several players who need more training. Sometimes, losing can be a valuable lesson."

Arteta concluded, "We conceded some avoidable goals recently, and today was no different. The responsibility lies collectively, and we are determined to improve with the players we have."