Before Arsenal commence their Premier League title defense later this month, there is a four-match preseason schedule to navigate, starting with Girona on Saturday evening.
Since the Gunners visited the Montilivi at the end of the 2024–25 Champions League league phase, Girona have sunk into the second tier in Spain. They were relegated last season after failing to win any of their final eight La Liga outings.
The rapid decline to La Liga 2 marks the end of the most successful era in the club’s modern history, which peaked with Champions League qualification under former manager Michel in 2024.
Conversely, Arsenal believe they’re only going one way with Mikel Arteta at the helm. After securing a first Premier League title in 22 years, the Gunners are now eyeing a period of dominance over English soccer. With rivals transitioning again, there’s a chance for the champions to assert themselves at the summit once more.
However, many may wonder just how much last season took out of Arteta’s players, with the effects keenly felt over the summer.
Arsenal beat MK Dons in a behind-closed-doors friendly last weekend, but Saturday’s fixture is their first proper outing of the summer. They’re playing four games in 12 days, with friendlies against Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund and Como also to come.
While key players are enjoying some much-needed respite, the young talent Arteta has at his disposal is stellar. There’s a group of teenagers hungry to prove themselves to the manager, and Girona are unlikely to be the most challenging of opponents.
Quique Álvarez has taken the job on a one-season contract, having been promoted from the B team. The length of his contract hardly suggests optimism from the hierarchy, who must be hoping that Girona don’t threaten back-to-back relegations this term.
There’s understandably been plenty of movement at Girona already this summer, with veterans Daley Blind and Axel Witsel among those to move on after the club’s relegation.
However, some familiar names remain on their books. Ex-Everton and Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek has a chance of featuring on Saturday after nursing an Achilles injury for much of 2025–26. Former Tottenham Hotspur winger Bryan Gil played 29 times in La Liga last season and should start here.
Moroccan Azzedine Ounahi was Girona’s only representative at the World Cup, and he’s currently enjoying some post-tournament respite after helping the Atlas Lions reach the quarterfinals.
