Arsenal announce latest fixture with pre-season schedule close to being finalised

While we're all distracted by the World Cup, the reigning Premier League champions will be back in action before you know it. As a reminder of this, on Thursday morning, Arsenal announced where their pre-season schedule will begin.

Due to the expanded World Cup, which does not conclude until 19 July, the Gunners will not be going on their usual far flung tour, rather having a truncated pre-season, remaining in Europe. Mikel Arteta's team will begin pre-season in Catalonia, confirming today that they will face Girona at Montilivi on Saturday 1 July.

Los Blanquivermells, who are part-owned by the City Football Group, were actually relegated from La Liga last season, going down after a final day 1-1 draw with Elche, concluding the campaign winless in eight. Thus, manager Míchel has departed to take over at Ajax, with Quique Álvarez the new man in charge. Despite this, Arsenal did face Girona in the Champions League as recently as January 2025.

That night, despite falling behind early, a Jorginho spot-kick, followed by an Ethan Nwaneri curler, saw them depart Spain 2-1 winners, even though Raheem Sterling saw a penalty saved in stoppage time.

This is Arsenal's second confirmed pre-season fixture, also set to take on Real Betis in Dublin the following Wednesday on 5 August. This will be the club's first match at the Aviva Stadium, in front of spectators, since a meeting with Chelsea in August 2018.

After this, as reported by Hand of Arsenal, Arteta's team will conclude with two matches at Emirates Stadium. They claim that Borussia Dortmund and Como, who are managed by Cesc Fàbregas of course, are being lined up to be the opponents, albeit "nothing [is] finalised yet".

Arsenal's pre-season fixture list

Saturday 1 August. Kick off 7pm (BST). Girona - Montilivi, Catalonia.

Wednesday 5 August. Kick off 7:30pm (BST). Real Betis - Aviva Stadium, Dublin.

*Sunday 9 August. Kick off TBC. Borussia Dortmund - Emirates Stadium, North London.

*Wednesday 12 August. Kick off TBC. Como - Emirates Stadium, North London.

Note: *indicates that fixture is not yet confirmed.

Four pre-season fixtures is obviously fewer than usual, partially because, as Premier League champions, Gooners have the FA Community Shield against Manchester City to look forward to. This year's edition will take place at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, because Wembley was already booked by The Weeknd as part of his After Hours til Dawn Tour; great planning guys!

A week on from Premier League fixture release day, Arsenal's early season schedule is taking shape, playing eight competitive games before the first international break, which now isn't until late-September.

Arsenal's pre-international break fixtures list

Sunday 16 August. Kick off 3pm. Manchester City. Community Shield - Millennium Stadium.

Friday 21 August. Kick off 8pm. Coventry City. Premier League - Emirates Stadium.

29/30 August. Kick off TBC. Aston Villa. Premier League - Villa Park

Sunday 6 September. Kick off 4:30 (rumoured). Chelsea. Premier League - Emirates Stadium.

8-10 September. UEFA Champions League league phase matchday one.

Saturday 12 September. Kick off 8pm (rumoured). Sunderland. Premier League - Stadium of Light.

15-16 September. EFL Cup third round.

19/20 September. Kick off TBC. Brighton & Hove Albion. Premier League - the Amex.

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