Arsenal’s pre-season friendlies: Dates & kick-off times
(Courtesy : Getty)
The defending champions will start their pre-season in August.
The Gunners returned to pre-season training on Monday as they prepare for the 2026/27 season after winning the Premier League title last season.
They enter the new season as Premier League champions. They will need all the preparation they can get. They seek to defend their divisional crown for the first time since the mid-1930s.
The Gunners finished seven points clear of Manchester City, exceeding expectations. Sports director Andrea Berta is not resting on his laurels this summer. He will look to provide Mikel Arteta with every resource he will need in the transfer window.
Unlike in 2025, the north Londoners will not embark on a summer tour of the Far East. This time, Arteta’s side will face a variety of opponents before taking on Manchester City in the FA Community Shield on August 16.
The reigning champions have announced four pre-season games, with the first taking place on August 1 in Spain against LaLiga side Girona.
Four days later, they will travel to Dublin to face Real Betis, before hosting Borussia Dortmund in the latest edition of the annual Emirates Cup.
The Gunners’ fourth and last official pre-season game, against Como, headed by former wonderkid Cesc Fabregas, will also take place at Emirates Stadium on August 12.
Also read: Bayern Munich’s pre-season friendlies: Dates & kick-off times
Dates & kick-off times for Arsenal pre-season schedule
Saturday, August 1, 7 pm BST – Girona vs Arsenal (Girona, Spain)
Wednesday, August 5, 7:30 pm BST – Arsenal vs Real Betis (Dublin, Ireland)
Sunday, August 9, 2 pm BST – Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund (London, England)
Wednesday, August 12, 7:30 pm BST – Arsenal vs Como (London, England)
Sunday, August 16, 3 pm BST – Arsenal vs Manchester City (Cardiff, Wales)
When is Arsenal’s first pre-season game?
It’s on the first of August against Girona.
When is the FA Community Shield game?
It’s on August 16th.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.