Arsenal faced their second successive defeat in the pre-season as they prepared for their Premier League title defense. A clinical performance from Borussia Dortmund resulted in a 3-2 victory at the Emirates.
New acquisition Bruno Guimaraes was introduced to the Arsenal supporters before the match, creating a celebratory atmosphere as the Gunners returned to the Emirates for the first time since winning the Premier League title in May.
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Captain Martin Odegaard made his return since the World Cup, and Gabriel Magalhaes took his position in defense. However, goals from Dortmund’s Samuele Inacio and Konstantinos Karetsas put Arsenal two goals behind before halftime.
Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes returned to start the 3-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund (Getty)
Arsenal had previously lost 3-1 to Real Betis in Dublin on Wednesday. They once again fell behind to the same scoreline after Joane Gadou scored from a corner shortly after Ethan Nwaneri had reduced the deficit.
Late in the game, Viktor Gyokeres brought some hope for Arsenal with a penalty, but further substitutions by Arteta included several academy players. Although Gabriel Martinelli scored in stoppage time, it was ruled offside.
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Arsenal will next play against Como on Wednesday, marking their last pre-season match before facing Manchester City in the Community Shield next Sunday and embarking on their Premier League campaign against Coventry City the following Friday.
How concerning is Arsenal’s defense right now?
While pre-season performances may be taken lightly, Arsenal’s defense has raised alarms after yielding six goals in two games. Last season, they only conceded three goals in a match once, during a 3-2 loss to Manchester United. However, after recent defeats to Real Betis and Borussia Dortmund, this trend is troubling.
Coach Mikel Arteta faces the challenge of strengthening the defense after fielding what could be his preferred back four against Dortmund. Although David Raya has not returned yet, Arsenal featured Gabriel Magalhaes and Cristhian Mosquera at center-back alongside Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White at full-back. With William Saliba out for several weeks and Jurrien Timber unavailable for the next few weeks, Arsenal may need to consider entering the transfer market.
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Arsenal’s trademark intensity is expected to return once the official season begins. Dortmund showcased their attacking prowess in the first half, but Arsenal’s defense exhibited lapses. For instance, Samuele Inacio evaded Gabriel and ran past Mosquera to score the opener past Kepa Arrizabalaga. Karetsas added a second with a stunning strike, exploiting the space Arsenal provided around the box.
Karetsas scored a superb goal for Dortmund in the 3-2 win (Getty)
Real Betis also netted a fantastic goal earlier in the week, marking a trend as Arsenal conceded from corners for the second match running. Joane Gadou’s goal came from a corner that Arsenal failed to clear, leading to a third goal for Dortmund that felt avoidable. The repeated lapses immediately following Nwaneri’s goal will only intensify the frustration surrounding the team’s defensive performance, which was solid last season but has faltered in recent matches.
With the confirmation that Vinicius Jr will remain at Real Madrid, an opportunity might arise for newcomer Christos Tzolis to cement his position on the left side of the Arsenal attack. The 24-year-old Greek international has made a strong impression so far, demonstrating both defensive diligence and offensive prowess in overcoming defenders to create scoring opportunities.
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Tzolis provided the assist for Nwaneri’s goal in the second half with a well-placed pull-back and was also pivotal in securing Arsenal’s penalty, converted by Gyokeres. With Martin Odegaard taking a brief 30-minute shift, Tzolis stepped up for several set-pieces, though his role may change as other key players like Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Bruno Guimaraes return from their international duties.
Borussia Dortmund’s Jobe Bellingham in action with Arsenal’s Christos Tzolis (Reuters)
Despite the recent defeats, Tzolis’s performances have been promising, especially as Arsenal considers pursuing other high-profile targets, including Liverpool‘s move for Paris Saint-Germain‘s Bradley Barcola. Currently, Tzolis finds himself ahead of Gabriel Martinelli to secure a starting position alongside Gyokeres and Saka in Arsenal’s attacking line-up.
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What lies ahead for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta?
After the 3-2 loss to Borussia Dortmund, Mikel Arteta indicated that he would have the entire squad together by Monday for the first time since the World Cup. This includes players like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Spain’s Mikel Merino, and Martin Zubimendi. While their return won’t rush them into the last pre-season match against Como on Wednesday, Bruno Guimaraes may feature in his first game ahead of the Community Shield clash with Manchester City on Saturday.