It was supposed to be a celebration. Arsenal’s first home match since winning the Premier League title should’ve been a victory lap. Instead, Borussia Dortmund spoiled the party with a deserved 3-2 win at the Emirates Stadium.
But here’s the thing — the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story.
Two players stood out from the wreckage. Christos Tzolis, the club’s £34 million summer signing from Club Brugge, looked every bit worth the fee. And Ethan Nwaneri? The 19-year-old made a compelling case for why Arsenal shouldn’t let him go anywhere.
Both earned ratings of 8/10 — the highest on the pitch. Everyone else? Well, they’ve got work to do.
Tzolis Announces Himself at the Emirates
If Arsenal fans were still wondering what Tzolis brings to the table, this match answered loudly. The Greek international terrorized Dortmund’s defence from the left wing, beating his marker repeatedly and delivering dangerous crosses and set-pieces throughout.
His assist for Nwaneri’s goal was the standout moment. Tzolis drove past his man on the left before picking out Nwaneri for a clinical finish that made it 2-1.
He wasn’t done. Drifting to the right side later on, he won the penalty that Viktor Gyokeres converted to pull Arsenal within a goal. His set-piece delivery was consistently threatening too.
This was his third consecutive pre-season match with a goal contribution, following strong outings against Girona and MK Dons. At 24, with 22 goals and 29 assists in 52 appearances for Club Brugge last season, he arrived with serious pedigree. He’s now backing it up in an Arsenal shirt.
Nwaneri Makes His Case
Few Arsenal players face as much pressure this summer as Nwaneri. After a disappointing loan spell at Marseille — just two goals in 11 appearances — his future at the club looked uncertain. Dortmund themselves were reportedly interested in signing him.
So when he replaced Martin Odegaard in the 32nd minute, the teenager had something to prove. He didn’t waste the chance.
Nwaneri injected energy into a sluggish Arsenal midfield. He buzzed around the pitch, picking up dangerous positions and pressing with intent. His goal early in the second half — a sharp sweep into the net off Tzolis’ delivery — was exactly the kind of finish Arsenal need from him.
He nearly added a second when Dortmund keeper Alexander Meyer was forced to tip his shot behind. And when it came to the post-match penalty shootout? Nwaneri buried his spot-kick into the top corner to win it 5-4 for Arsenal.
Could this be the pre-season that saves his Arsenal career? Don’t rule it out.
Defensive Concerns Won’t Go Away
For all the positives from Tzolis and Nwaneri, the defensive display gave Mikel Arteta plenty to worry about. This was Arsenal’s second consecutive pre-season defeat after losing 3-1 to Real Betis in Dublin.
- The problems started early:Gabriel got too tight to Fabio Silva, leaving space for Samuele Inacio to run through and score in the seventh minute
- Riccardo Calafiori was caught on the ball in midfield, gifting Konstantinos Karetsas a chance he finished brilliantly to make it 2-0
- A calamitous failure to clear a corner let Joane Gadou restore Dortmund’s two-goal cushion after Nwaneri had pulled one back
Kepa Arrizabalaga didn’t inspire confidence either, continuing what’s been an unconvincing pre-season. Illan Meslier, who replaced him at half-time, wasn’t decisive enough for Dortmund’s third.
With William Saliba still sidelined through a back injury and several key players yet to return from World Cup duty, Arsenal’s defence is missing its spine. Bruno Guimaraes, the club’s new £75 million signing from Newcastle, was unveiled to fans before kick-off but wasn’t available to play. His arrival can’t come soon enough.
Odegaard at least offered a silver lining with a tidy 30-minute cameo. He played two incisive passes and looked sharp before making way for Nwaneri. Max Dowman had his moments too, skinning Maximilian Beier before teeing up Gyokeres — who hit the bar.
Young academy player Marli Salmon drew a big cheer when he matched Serhou Guirassy for pace and produced a crucial sliding tackle. Gabriel Martinelli thought he’d grabbed a dramatic late equaliser, but the offside flag cut the celebration short.
Arsenal’s pre-season winds down with a friendly against Como on August 12 before the Community Shield against Manchester City in Cardiff on August 16. The Premier League opener against newly-promoted Coventry follows on August 21.
It’s only pre-season. Everyone knows that. But the defending needs to sharpen up fast — and Arteta knows it better than anyone.
The good news? Tzolis and Nwaneri look ready. Arsenal’s attack might just have found two contributors who can make a real difference when it matters.
