Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund: Preseason Clash in North London
The Emirates Stadium stages a preseason fixture with the feel of a European knockout tie on Sunday, as Premier League champions Arsenal host Borussia Dortmund in a marquee friendly in North London.
Kick-off is set for 2pm ET on August 9, with the game available on Arsenal.com and the club’s official app on a paid basis.
Arsenal still short of World Cup stars
Mikel Arteta’s preparations for the new campaign have already flickered through a range of moods. Arsenal opened preseason with tidy wins over MK Dons and Girona, only to be checked by a 3-1 defeat to Real Betis in Dublin. This meeting with Dortmund arrives as a sharper examination of their early summer work.
Arteta must again navigate a lengthy absentee list. Several key figures remain on extended breaks after going deep at the World Cup, including Mikel Merino, David Raya, Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka. That’s a sizeable chunk of Arsenal’s core, missing from a game that will still demand intensity and structure.
At the back, William Saliba’s absence through a back injury strips Arsenal of their defensive linchpin. His composure and range in possession are central to how the champions build from deep, and his unavailability offers fringe defenders a rare window to impress.
There is at least one welcome sight. Martin Odegaard has rejoined training following his World Cup campaign with Norway, and while his minutes may be managed, his presence immediately raises the technical ceiling of any Arsenal XI. Even a short cameo would give the home crowd a glimpse of the rhythm they expect to see when the competitive fixtures return.
Dortmund in flux but dangerous
Dortmund arrive in North London with a preseason as scattered as their travel itinerary. They have yet to play at home this summer, instead stringing together a tour that has mixed encouraging wins with stinging defeats.
Victories over Rot-Weiss Oberhausen and FC Tokyo have been offset by losses to Fortuna Dusseldorf and Cerezo Osaka, a reminder that this is a squad still feeling out its new shape. The results have been uneven, the talent level is not.
The squad sheet tells its own story of transition. Julian Brandt has departed for Ajax, Karim Adeyemi has taken the high-profile route to Barcelona, and Niklas Sule has opted for a dramatic step down the pyramid with Tiefenbach. Those exits strip Dortmund of creativity, pace, and experience in one sweep.
There is also a noticeable American subplot. Forward Cole Campbell has moved on to Bundesliga newcomers Elversberg, while 17-year-old winger Mathis Albert steps into the spotlight as part of the current squad. For a teenager, the Emirates offers a serious stage and a serious test.
Injuries have bitten as well. Nico Schlotterbeck and Emre Can are both sidelined, removing a key centre-back and a seasoned midfield anchor from the equation. Yet Dortmund still travel with enough quality to trouble anyone.
Serhou Guirassy brings penalty-box presence and a ruthless edge in front of goal. Waldermar Anton adds steel and nous at the back. Felix Nmecha, linked with a move to Newcastle, continues to feature prominently in preseason and will draw plenty of scouting attention with every touch in a game of this profile.
A friendly in name only
On paper, this is a preseason run-out. In practice, it carries the weight of two clubs measuring themselves against elite opposition before the real business starts.
Arsenal, bruised slightly by that defeat to Betis and still short of several World Cup mainstays, need to show that their depth can handle a high-tempo, high-quality contest. Dortmund, reshaped and still searching for rhythm, must prove that their new mix can withstand the speed and precision of the Premier League champions.
The Emirates will not decide trophies on Sunday. It will, however, offer a sharp glimpse of where both giants truly stand as a new season looms.
