Arsenal’s Premier League title party hit a bump on Sunday afternoon. Borussia Dortmund crashed the celebration at the Emirates Stadium, beating the newly-crowned English champions 3-2 in the 2026 Emirates Cup final. It was Arsenal’s first home game since lifting the trophy, and the German visitors made sure it would not be a straightforward coronation.
A Rocky Start for the Champions
Dortmund, under new manager Niko Kovac, wasted no time stunning the home crowd. In just the seventh minute, Felix Nmecha sliced through a shaky Arsenal backline with a clever through-ball, teeing up 18-year-old Samuele Inacio for a composed finish past Kepa Arrizabalaga. Eighteen-year-old Konstantinos Karetsas doubled the lead before the break, capping off a first half Mikel Arteta will want to forget quickly.
Arsenal were without a long list of key names, including Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, and David Raya, all still working their way back from World Cup duty, while William Saliba remained sidelined with a back injury. Captain Martin Odegaard started on the bench as Arteta carefully managed his workload after a long international summer.
The Gunners Fight Back
Arsenal did not fold. Christos Tzolis, showing real quality on the flank, set up Ethan Nwaneri for a close-range finish just nine minutes into the second half, sparking hope of a comeback.
That hope was short-lived. Dortmund responded almost immediately, with Joane Gadou converting from a corner to restore the two-goal cushion.
Viktor Gyokeres then got his moment. After Tzolis was fouled in the box, the Swedish striker stepped up and buried the penalty to make it 3-2. Arsenal pushed hard for an equalizer in the closing stages, and Gabriel Martinelli even thought he had found one in stoppage time, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside.
Penalties Provide Consolation
As had been agreed before kickoff regardless of the result, the match was settled with a penalty shootout. Arsenal made no mistake from the spot, converting every attempt as Illan Meslier, who had come on for Kepa at halftime, played his part between the sticks. It was Nwaneri who stepped up to take the decisive kick, lifting a composed finish into the top corner to seal a 5-4 shootout win. Dortmund still walked away with the actual trophy, since the final result stood as a 3-2 win in normal time, but Arsenal fans at least had something to cheer before heading home.
What This Means for Arsenal
Results in pre-season friendlies rarely carry long-term weight, and this defeat is unlikely to worry Arteta too much given his side’s threadbare squad on the day. The performance did, however, expose familiar defensive vulnerabilities that Arsenal will need to sharpen before the Premier League title defense begins. The club also unveiled new signing Bruno Guimaraes to the crowd before kickoff, even though the midfielder was not part of the matchday squad, giving supporters something extra to look forward to.
Arsenal’s focus now shifts to the Community Shield against Manchester City at Wembley next weekend, a rematch Arteta will be desperate to win after City beat his side in the Carabao Cup final last season. Before that, the Gunners host Como in a midweek friendly to continue their preparations.
Dortmund, meanwhile, head back to Germany with the Emirates Cup trophy and plenty of confidence in their young stars, Inacio, Karetsas, and Gadou all announcing themselves on English soil ahead of their own new season opener against Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup.
It was pre-season, and the trophy was not the biggest prize on offer, but for a Dortmund side rebuilding under a new manager, this was a statement win at one of Europe’s most famous stadiums.
