Arsenal in Talks Over Double Summer Friendly Including Cesc Fabregas Reunion

ArsenalTeam·Arsenal is reportedly in advanced discussions to schedule two significant pre-season friendlies against German giants Borussia DortmundTeam·Borussia Dortmund and Italian side ComoTeam·Como, managed by former Gunners midfielder Cesc Fabregas. These fixtures are anticipated to be part of ArsenalTeam·Arsenal's preparations for the upcoming 2026/27 Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League campaign, with games planned closer to home this summer.

Unlike some of their LondonVenue·London rivals, such as ChelseaTeam·Chelsea and Tottenham HotspurTeam·Tottenham Hotspur, ArsenalTeam·Arsenal is not embarking on an extensive international pre-season tour this year. While a return to a major overseas tour, potentially in North America, is being considered for 2027 after a three-year hiatus, the immediate focus remains on European-based matches. The Gunners already have a fixture confirmed against Real BetisTeam·Real Betis in DublinVenue·Dublin on August 5, followed by the FA Community Shield clash with Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City on August 16. The proposed friendlies against Dortmund and ComoTeam·Como are expected to fill the period between these two scheduled matches.

Borussia DortmundTeam·Borussia Dortmund concluded the previous BundesligaCompetition·Bundesliga season in second place, finishing 16 points adrift of champions Bayern MunichTeam·Bayern Munich. Their UEFA Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League campaign saw them reach the play-off stage, where they were ultimately eliminated by Italian club AtalantaTeam·Atalanta. Despite securing a 2-0 victory at home, a decisive 4-1 away defeat proved insurmountable.

The potential match against ComoTeam·Como holds particular narrative interest due to the presence of Cesc Fabregas. The former ArsenalTeam·Arsenal captain, who departed for BarcelonaTeam·Barcelona in 2011 before returning to the Premier LeagueCompetition·Premier League with ChelseaTeam·Chelsea in 2014, now manages the Italian club. Under Fabregas' leadership, ComoTeam·Como achieved a historic fourth-place finish in Serie ACompetition·Serie A last season, securing qualification for the UEFA Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League for the first time in the club's history. Fabregas has previously returned to the Emirates StadiumVenue·Emirates Stadium as an opposing player, notably during his tenure with ChelseaTeam·Chelsea, where his reception from the ArsenalTeam·Arsenal faithful was mixed. A return as a manager in North LondonVenue·London would undoubtedly draw considerable attention and curiosity regarding the crowd's response.

These proposed friendlies underscore ArsenalTeam·Arsenal's strategic approach to pre-season, balancing competitive preparation with logistical considerations. The opportunity to face a top-tier German club like Borussia DortmundTeam·Borussia Dortmund offers a robust test, while the encounter with ComoTeam·Como provides a unique storyline and a chance to acknowledge a significant figure in the club's recent history. The official scheduling of these matches is pending, but the window between the DublinVenue·Dublin fixture and the Community Shield appears to be the most probable timeframe.