Arsenal vs Dortmund: A Preseason Test with Competitive Edge
The Emirates Stadium stages a friendly in name only on Sunday, as Premier League champions Arsenal host Borussia Dortmund in a matchup that carries far more weight than a routine summer run-out.
Both clubs arrive in North London with questions to answer, fitness to build and new hierarchies to establish after a turbulent summer of international football and transfer churn.
Arsenal juggling absences and expectations
Mikel Arteta’s side step back onto home turf still feeling the effects of a World Cup-heavy summer. A core of his champions remains unavailable: Mikel Merino, David Raya, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka are all yet to return after going deep into the tournament, involved in either the final or the third-place game.
That leaves Arsenal short of some of their most influential figures at both ends of the pitch. The spine that drove last season’s title push is, for now, scattered across post-World Cup recovery schedules.
William Saliba’s absence only sharpens that problem. The central defender, such a calming presence in the back line, is sidelined with a back injury, forcing Arteta to improvise again in a position where Arsenal can ill afford disruption.
There is at least one welcome sight at London Colney. Martin Odegaard has rejoined training after his World Cup campaign with Norway, offering Arteta the chance to reintroduce his captain’s tempo and intelligence between the lines, even if only for a controlled set of minutes.
Preseason had started brightly. Wins over MK Dons and Girona suggested a smooth transition back into club mode. Then came Dublin. A 3-1 defeat to Real Betis cut through any early complacency and underlined how far this group still has to travel before the Premier League kicks off again.
That is where Dortmund come in. This is not just about sharpening touches; it is about re-establishing standards.
Dortmund reshaped and on the road
Dortmund arrive in London with their own story of change. The squad that walks out at the Emirates will look familiar in colours, less so in personnel.
Julian Brandt, a long-serving creative hub, has gone to Ajax. Karim Adeyemi, all pace and chaos in wide areas, now belongs to Barcelona. At the back, Niklas Sule has dropped down several tiers to Tiefenbach, a remarkable step for a defender once central to Germany’s plans.
The departures do not stop there. American forward Cole Campbell has moved on to Bundesliga newcomers Elversberg, opening space in the attacking rotation, while another American, 17-year-old winger Mathis Albert, has been drafted into the squad and handed a chance to impress on a major stage.
Dortmund’s summer has been nomadic. They have yet to play at home in preseason, instead stringing together a series of fixtures on the road. Wins over Rot-Weiss Oberhausen and FC Tokyo have been offset by defeats to Fortuna Dusseldorf and Cerezo Osaka, a mixed bag that mirrors a team still working out its new identity.
Injuries have complicated that process. Nico Schlotterbeck, a key figure at the back, is unavailable. Emre Can, the midfield enforcer and emotional barometer, is also out. Those absences strip Dortmund of experience in the heart of the pitch and at the base of their structure.
Even so, there is no shortage of talent ready to take the stage. Serhou Guirassy, the prolific forward, has been heavily involved this preseason, offering a direct threat and a focal point. Waldermar Anton brings authority and organisation, while Felix Nmecha — a reported target for Newcastle — continues to build his profile with assertive performances in midfield.
For them, this is a chance to show they can carry Dortmund’s next iteration.
A friendly with sharp edges
Kickoff comes at 2pm ET on Sunday, August 9, with the Emirates providing the stage and Arsenal’s own channels — Arsenal.com and the club’s app, via a paid stream — carrying the pictures.
On paper, it is an exhibition. In reality, it is a measuring stick.
Arsenal need rhythm, defensive cohesion without Saliba and a reminder of their attacking patterns while so many World Cup names sit out. Dortmund need clarity, leadership in the absence of Can and Schlotterbeck, and evidence that their reshaped squad can cope against elite opposition.
Two clubs in transition, one stadium, and a preseason game that might say more about the months ahead than either manager would care to admit.
