The reigning Premier League champions wasted no time making a statement in their first public pre-season outing. Arsenal dismantled Girona 4-1 at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi on Saturday, lifting the Costa Brava Trophy and offering fans a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come in 2026/27.
It wasn’t just the scoreline that caught the eye. It was who delivered it. A 16-year-old record-breaker. A £34 million debutant. And a defender making his long-awaited comeback from a serious knee injury. Pre-season doesn’t always tell you much — but this one told us plenty.
Dowman Steals the Show Again
If you don’t know Max Dowman’s name yet, you haven’t been paying attention.
The teenager, who became the youngest scorer in Premier League history back in March against Everton, produced a goal and an assist against Girona. He threaded a clever through ball for Kai Havertz to slot home the opener on 16 minutes. Then, just a few minutes after half-time, he fired in from outside the box to make it 3-1.
He’s still only 16. He’s still in school. And he’s already looking like a cornerstone of Arsenal’s future.
Mikel Arteta’s words from March still ring true. He said Dowman “doesn’t seem to be fazed by the occasion or the moment or the context or the opponent.”
Nothing about Saturday suggested otherwise.
Christos Tzolis also made an immediate impression. The Greek winger, signed from Club Brugge for £34 million as Leandro Trossard’s replacement, angled in Arsenal’s second goal with 15 minutes left in the first half. It was a composed finish from a player who racked up 17 goals and 23 assists in the Belgian Pro League last season.
Gabriel Jesus completed the scoring in the 55th minute, latching onto a pass from Ben White.
Arnau Martinez headed in Girona’s only reply from a corner shortly after the break, but the hosts never truly threatened.
White Returns, Timber Misses Out
Perhaps the most significant subplot was Ben White’s inclusion in the starting lineup.
The defender hadn’t played since suffering a medial knee ligament injury against West Ham in May. That blow ruled him out of Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to PSG and cost him a spot in England’s World Cup squad.
Seeing him start alongside Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera was a real boost. He looked sharp, too — his pass for Jesus’s goal showed he’s not far off full sharpness.
Less encouraging was the absence of Jurrien Timber, who left the pre-season camp with a groin problem. Arteta will hope that’s a minor setback.
Several World Cup stars featured from the start, including Havertz, Hincapie, and Viktor Gyokeres. All three were withdrawn after 33 minutes. Key names like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, David Raya, and Martin Zubimendi haven’t yet returned to training after their summer tournament duties.
Arteta used the opportunity to rotate heavily, making eight substitutions in the 62nd minute and handing valuable minutes to a host of academy products.
What’s Next for Arsenal?
This was a confident opener, but there’s plenty more to come.
Arsenal head to Dublin next, where they’ll take on Real Betis at the Aviva Stadium on August 5. After that, it’s back to London for the Emirates Cup against Borussia Dortmund on August 9, followed by a meeting with Cesc Fabregas’s Como on August 12 for The Emirates cup.
The Community Shield against Manchester City in Cardiff on August 16 will offer a sterner test. And the Premier League title defence begins at home to Coventry City on August 21.
For now, there’s reason to feel optimistic. Tzolis looked like he belongs. Dowman continued to announce himself. And White’s comeback is well ahead of schedule.
It’s early days, sure. But Arsenal look like a team that knows exactly where it’s going.
