Arsenal’s 2026/27 pre-season kicks into gear this Saturday when the Premier League champions travel to Spain to face Girona. It’s the first chance for fans worldwide to see Mikel Arteta’s squad in open action since lifting the title.
So how do you watch it? Here’s everything you need to know.
When and Where Is the Match?
The friendly takes place at Girona’s Estadi Montilivi on Saturday, August 1. Kick-off is set for 7pm BST.
For fans in other time zones, that’s 2pm ET in the United States, 11:30pm IST in India, and 4am AEST on Sunday, August 2 for those in Australia.
How to Watch Girona vs Arsenal Live
Arsenal are keeping this one in-house. The only way to watch the match is through Arsenal.com or the official Arsenal app.
There’s no TNT Sports, no Sky, no BT coverage for this fixture. It’s an Arsenal-exclusive broadcast.
Fans can grab a Pre-Season Pass covering all four friendlies for just £9.99 — but only until 9am UK time on August 1. After the deadline, the price jumps to £14.99.
Prefer to watch just this one match? Individual passes are available at £6.99.
That Pre-Season Pass covers:
- Girona vs Arsenal — August 1
- Real Betis vs Arsenal — August 5 (Dublin)
- Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund — August 9 (Emirates Cup)
- Arsenal vs Como — August 12
For viewers in the United States, alternative options include Fubo TV, Prime Video USA, FOX Deportes and FOX One. Availability in other regions varies, so check your local listings.
One thing to note — the stream won’t be available in Spain due to rights restrictions. Supporters should also update their Arsenal app to the latest version before match day.
Why This Match Matters More Than a Typical Friendly
This isn’t just a run-out in the sunshine. There’s genuine intrigue here.
Arsenal ended a 22-year wait for the Premier League title last season. They also reached the Champions League final. Now they’re preparing to defend that crown, and every pre-season minute counts.
Several key players are still returning from World Cup duty. But the squad got a welcome boost when Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Piero Hincapie all flew out to Girona after their post-tournament breaks.
Could we see Gyokeres in action? Arteta’s been easing the Swedish striker into his plans since that move from Sporting Lisbon. Pre-season is the ideal stage to build match sharpness.
New signings Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis are also part of the travelling group, alongside at least 11 academy players. Expect heavy rotation and a good look at younger faces like Max Dowman and Ethan Nwaneri.
As for Girona, they’re in a very different place. The Catalan club were relegated from La Liga last season, finishing 19th with just 41 points. Quite the fall for a team that played Champions League football as recently as 2024/25.
Arsenal actually beat Girona 2-1 during that Champions League campaign. Nwaneri scored a memorable left-footed winner that night. Could he do it again?
Girona are now preparing for life in the Segunda Division under manager Michel. They’ve already played pre-season fixtures against Espanyol, UE Olot and Marseille.
This is one of five scheduled dates before Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Coventry City on August 21. The Community Shield against Manchester City on August 16 in Cardiff adds another fixture to the diary.
For Arteta, it’s about building fitness, testing combinations and getting minutes into legs. For fans, it’s the first taste of what the defending champions will look like going forward.
Don’t miss it. Grab your pass and tune in.
