Arsenal's return to the Emirates Stadium proved to be a low-key affair, as Mikel Arteta's side fell to a defeat against Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly, offering plenty of talking points despite the absence of several key stars.
It was the first time Arsenal had played at home since their title-clinching win over Burnley in May, but with several England and Spain internationals still away following their World Cup exertions, this was far from a full-strength lineup. With the Community Shield just a week away, followed swiftly by the Premier League opener against Coventry, Arteta will have taken plenty of notes from a performance that exposed some defensive frailties.
Dortmund found gaps in Arsenal's setup with relative ease, particularly through midfield, where the visitors' physicality proved decisive. Jobe Bellingham and Felix Nmecha dominated the middle of the pitch, allowing Samuele Inacio to surge forward from deep and slot home the opening goal. Myles Lewis-Skelly, deployed as the deepest midfielder, struggled to provide the defensive cover usually offered by the likes of Declan Rice.
The issues continued in the second half when Riccardo Calafiori lost possession near the halfway line, allowing Konstantinos Karetsas to advance unchallenged and curl a finish into the top corner. Without the protective presence of Rice and William Saliba — the latter set for an extended spell on the sidelined — Arsenal's high-risk approach in possession left them vulnerable at the back.
On a more positive note, new signing Christos Tzolis offered an encouraging glimpse of what he could bring to Arteta's attack. The Belgian-based forward started quietly but grew into the game, delivering dangerous set-piece crosses that will have caught the eye of set-piece coach Nicolas Jover. One such delivery arguably should have been converted by Gabriel.
Tzolis' influence increased after the break, as he beat his marker down the flank before teeing up Ethan Nwaneri for Arsenal's equalizer. He later won a penalty after drifting into a right-wing position, showcasing the kind of direct, incisive play that made him such a prolific performer in Belgium. While questions remain over how his output will translate to the Premier League, his early performances suggest Arsenal may have found an astute addition in attack.
However, it was Nwaneri who stood out as the headline performer. With his long-term future at the club still uncertain following a difficult loan spell at Marseille, every appearance this summer carries extra significance for the 19-year-old. He entered as a substitute for Martin Odegaard midway through the first half and wasted no time making an impact, dropping into deeper positions to help dictate Arsenal's play.
Nwaneri's work ethic was evident throughout, as he tracked back to dispossess Bellingham and won multiple duels near his own box — a marked contrast to previous questions about his commitment during his time in France. His reward came when he calmly finished a chance created by Tzolis, underlining the attacking threat that could make him a valuable option for Arteta moving forward. He would go on to score the decisive spot-kick as the match went to a penalty shootout.
With Arsenal facing a summer of squad rebuilding, both Nwaneri and Tzolis appear to be making compelling cases for prominent roles in the season ahead.
Based on reporting from Standard Sport.