Arsenal are back at the Emirates Stadium this evening for their final pre-season friendly of the summer, with Cesc Fabregas bringing his Como side to North London.
Kick-off is at 7.30pm, and this represents Mikel Arteta’s final opportunity to get valuable minutes into his players before Arsenal face Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.
The Gunners will also be looking for a positive response after Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Emirates Cup.
Confirmed Arsenal team against Como
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
👏 Julienne and Salmon start
🪄 Eze makes his return
🎯 Jesus leads the lineLet’s go, Gunners 👊
🤝 Presented by @deel pic.twitter.com/zGuzArpM6S
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 12, 2026
There has been plenty of interest surrounding Arteta’s selection following the return of several players from the World Cup.
David Raya, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Noni Madueke were among those who returned to training this week, although naturally Arteta will have to manage their minutes carefully after their extended summer campaigns.
New summer recruit Christos Tzolis has enjoyed an excellent pre-season with several goal involvements, while supporters will also be hoping for an opportunity to see Arsenal’s latest addition, Bruno Guimaraes, in action.
Jurrien Timber remains unavailable despite returning to training, while William Saliba is expected to be sidelined for several months.
Final preparations before Manchester City
Tonight’s opponents should provide a useful test. Former Arsenal captain Fabregas returns to the Emirates as Como boss after guiding the Italian club to Champions League qualification last season.
For more on Como, the latest Arsenal team news and tonight’s game, you can read our full Arsenal v Como Match Preview here.
While this remains a friendly, Arteta will want to see a strong performance as preparations reach their final stage.
Arsenal face Manchester City in the Community Shield at 3pm on Sunday, 16th August, so hopefully tonight’s performance will leave the Gunners in good shape for the first competitive test of the new campaign.
What do you make of Arteta’s starting XI tonight? Is this close to the Arsenal team you want to see against Manchester City on Sunday? Let us know in the comments.
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Salmon Julienne?
Arteta knows how to make us hungry before kickoff.
Don’t know where this skelly transfer, rumor is coming from.. it had better not be true. Why would arsenal want to sell skelly.. a player that can play LB , DM, AM, LW, box-to-box… I don’t get it.. since arteta wants to get rid of viera, then it doesn’t make sense to. Sell skelly for no amount of money.. we have a gem of a player that will grow from strength to strength.. please leave skelly be . We need him here and not at Chelsea
Another insipid display.
Getting worried about Sundqy and even Coventry
I don’t know what you were expecting really
Would like to see how Julienne fares tonight, and would like to see a combination of Jesus and Gyokeres at some time too I wonder with Zubimendi not on the bench is that an indication he could be on way out I hope not For the Charity Shield I would imagine Raya White, Calafiori,Gabriel, Mosquera, Madueke, Guimaraes, Havertz, Odegaard, Tzolis to be our starting eleven
Zubimendi just rejoined the group this week, so I’d imagine Arteta just decided to give him a little more time to get back up to match fitness. Madrid are sniffing around though.
With a lightweight midfield trio who will be vulnerable against counter attacks, i suspect our youngsters at the back will be under some pressure this evening.Chances of keeping a clean sheet remote, but I hope I am wrong.
Given the poor performances so far this Pre-Season and the absences of key players I dont understand the team selection.Havertz needs to be played in his usual position as he is clearly lacking as a midfielder..White needs to build his fitness.Mosquera needs to get used to playing alongside Gabriel.
Very good performance from Salman alongside Gabriel. Better directness and application in the second half but Arsenal were always open to Como’s direct break aways. We were fairly toothless in attack though, as usual.
It was fine. The attack gives me little confidence it can mount another title challenge though. Need players of a higher level
well most on here didn’t want V Junior, Alvarez or Barcola
Yeah apparently they got a bad attitude and would disrupt the dressing room 😂 some Arsenal fans get too sentimental over the players in the squad even if they aren’t good enough 😄
Very nice all Gunners have come back except Saliba. Bring on Man City in Cardiff. COYG