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Arsenal set to face former player in new pre-season friendly

Arsenal are set to add another couple of friendly matches to their pre-season schedule, including one against Cesc Fabregas’ Como side, according to a report.

Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal at London Stadium on May 10, 2026 in London, England.
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Tom Canton reports for Football.London that Arsenal are in talks over two pre-season friendlies against Borussia Dortmund and Como 1907.

Canton suggested that the gap between the trip to Dublin to face Real Betis on August 5th and the Community Shield match against Manchester City on August 16th appears to be when the two other friendlies are likely to be scheduled.

UDINE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 01: Manager of Como Cesc Fabregas during the Serie A match between Udinese and Como at Stadio Friuli on September 01, 2024 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images

Football insider Hand of Arsenal adds that whilst nothing is finalised yet, those two opponents are indeed the frontrunners for Arsenal’s pre-season schedule, with both set to be at home and one likely to be the Emirates Cup game.

The potential dates are August 9th and 12th, though this is yet to be confirmed.

It’s also likely that Arsenal will have a game or two behind closed doors, but we may not learn about those until shortly before they happen, or perhaps not even until afterwards.

The rest of the schedule appears to be almost in place, and will see Arsenal largely remaining in the UK and Ireland.

Arsenal 2026 pre-season schedule

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 08: An aerial view of Emirates Stadium ahead of the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium on October 08, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Times in BST, unconfirmed fixtures in italics

A general view of the exterior of the Principality Stadium prior to the Quilter Nations Series 2025 rugby international match between Wales and South Africa at Principality Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images
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