Arsenal: Kepa, White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard, Tzolis, Dowman, Havertz, Gyokeres

Subs: Meslier, Setford, Hincapie, Jesus, Martinelli, Vieira, Nwaneri, Nelson, Salmon, Kabia, Ibrahim, Ogunnaike, Julienne, O’Neill

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Arsenal’s latest pre-season fixture ended with a 3-2 defeat against Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates this afternoon.

Mikel Arteta made two changes from the side that lost to Real Betis in Dublin, with Martin Odegaard and Gabriel coming in for Ethan Nwaneri and Piero Hincapie respectively.

After a bright enough start, the Gunners found themselves 1-0 in the 7th minute, after a nice move and smart run from Inacio off the back of Mosquera saw the Italian drill the ball into the bottom corner. 0-1.

Jobe Bellingham was lucky to avoid a booking for a forceful challenge on Kai Havertz, before Viktor Gyokeres smashed a free kick high over the bar after Odegaard had been fouled just outside the box. Havertz then spurned a chance to give the Swede a tap-in with a poor pass after Odegaard sent him in behind, and when the German found the right ball some minutes later, Gyokeres headed well wide.

The Arsenal striker came closer moments afterward, hitting the bar after a brilliant touch from Dowman saw him feed Gyokeres in the box. For all Arsenal’s pressure though, Dortmund extended their lead in the 29th minute when Gabriel stood off Karetsas, allowing the 18 year old Greece international to curl an excellent shot into the top corner giving Kepa no chance. 0-2.

After a brief hydration break, Odegaard came off to be replaced by Nwaneri, and Gabriel had a good chance to score when Christos Tzolis delivered a great free kick to the back post but the Brazilian headed over from close range. Then Gyokeres got in front of his defender in the box, on his right foot, but rather than shoot went down looking for a pen under the mildest contact from the defender.

Tzolis delivered another good ball for Havertz who headed straight at the keeper before the offside flag went up, and Gabriel picked up a booking despite the fact he actually won the ball in midfield. The German side took the two goal lead into the break.

There was just one half-time change from Mikel Arteta as Illan Meslier replaced Kepa in goal, and the former Leeds keeper was at full stretch as Dortmund curled one just over the bar early into the second period.

54 minutes in and Arsenal got one back. Tzolis picked up a clearance inside their box, drilled a low cross back into the danger area, and Nwaneri was there to sweep home a first time finish to make it 1-2.

However, when Arsenal failed to clear their lines after a Dortmund corner just three minutes later, the Bundesliga side scored again through defender Joane Gadou. 1-3.

Both sides then made changes, with Arsenal bringing on Marli Salmon and Piero Hincapie for Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori. Tzolis set up a chance for Nwaneri whose shot from distance was pushed around the post, Dowman tried his luck from outside the box but the keeper was equal to it, and in the 67th minute Tzolis won a penalty when his quick feet drew a foul inside the box. Gyokeres stepped up, and put the ball in the bottom right corner to make it 2-3.

With 15 minutes to go there were further changes from both sides, with Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Theo Julienne, Ceadach O’Neill, Fabio Vieira, Josh Ogunnaike, and Ife Ibrahim all introduced for the Gunners. Right at the death, Arsenal thought they’d found an equaliser through Gabriel Martinelli, but an offside flag that looked very generous for the visitors ruled it out, and Dortmund won the Emirates Cup.

There then followed a penalty shoot-out which I couldn’t muster the energy to give a shit about, let alone write about.