Arsenal suffered a second straight pre-season defeat, losing 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates Stadium to miss out on the Emirates Cup. Mikel Arteta’s side once again struggled defensively, just days after admitting his side’s defending against Real Betis had fallen below standard and new signing Christos Tzolis was one of the few genuine bright spots on an otherwise concerning afternoon.
How the Game Unfolded
Dortmund raced into a 2-0 half-time lead through Samuele Inacio and 18-year-old prospect Konstantinos Karetsas, with Arsenal wasteful at the other end Viktor Gyokeres struck the crossbar in the first half after also seeing a converted penalty controversially overturned in favour of a free-kick, which he then fired over. Ethan Nwaneri pulled a goal back midway through the second half, finishing well after good work down the left from Tzolis, only for sloppy defending at a corner to allow Joane Gadou to restore Dortmund’s two-goal cushion moments later.
Tzolis continued to catch the eye throughout, later winning a penalty that Gyokeres converted to make it 3-2, before Gabriel Martinelli thought he’d salvaged a late equaliser only to be ruled out for offside from a short corner in stoppage time.
Arteta’s Reaction
Speaking after the game, Arteta acknowledged his frustration with the result, saying certain players clearly need more minutes and match rhythm, and that a defeat like this should sting regardless of the context of a friendly. He pointed to Arsenal’s ongoing absentees and a squad still building fitness as part of the picture, while accepting responsibility fell collectively on the squad for conceding poor goals in consecutive matches, and said improvement across the board remains the clear priority.
Analysis: Should Arsenal’s Defending Be a Concern?
Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz highlighted just how unusual this defensive stretch has been by Arsenal’s recent standards. Since December 2023, Arsenal had only conceded three goals in a single match once a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United in January that snapped a run of 121 matches without shipping three goals. Conceding three in back-to-back games hasn’t happened since April 2023, when a 3-3 draw with Southampton was followed by a heavy 4-1 defeat to Manchester City in a title run-in.
Blitz noted this is still pre-season, with key players including Declan Rice and new signing Bruno Guimaraes yet to return to bolster the midfield. But even with a recognisable first-choice back four on the pitch, Arsenal have looked unusually open three of the six goals conceded across the Real Betis and Dortmund games came from shots outside the box, with two more from defensive set-piece situations. William Saliba’s injury absence looks increasingly costly, while Jurrien Timber remains some weeks away from returning from a long-term groin issue.
With Arsenal’s interest already known in Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, and reported interest in Tottenham captain Cristian Romero, Blitz suggested defensive reinforcements may need to move up Arsenal’s list of priorities alongside the ongoing search for a left-winger. Still, there’s no need for alarm just yet Arteta will have his full squad available for the first time on Monday once World Cup-involved players and other internationals return, and there were genuine positives to take from the Dortmund game, with Tzolis sharp throughout, Martin Odegaard creating plenty of chances in open play, and both Max Dowman and Nwaneri continuing to impress.
What’s Next for Arsenal
Arsenal’s pre-season continues against Como at the Emirates on 12 August, before the season-defining Community Shield clash with Manchester City in Cardiff on 16 August a fixture that will offer a clearer picture of where Arteta’s side stand heading into their title defence.
Quick Facts: Arsenal 2-3 Borussia Dortmund
- Scorers (Arsenal): Ethan Nwaneri, Viktor Gyokeres (pen)
- Scorers (Dortmund): Samuele Inacio, Konstantinos Karetsas, Joane Gadou
- Arsenal’s pre-season defensive record: 6 goals conceded across last two friendlies
- Standout performer: Christos Tzolis (assist + penalty won)
- Key absentees: William Saliba, Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice, Bruno Guimaraes
- Next fixtures: Arsenal vs Como (12 Aug), Community Shield vs Man City (16 Aug, Cardiff)
