In a commanding pre‑season display at Montilivi, Arsenal cruised to a 4‑1 victory over Girona, with 16‑year‑old prodigy Max Dowman stealing the spotlight by providing both a goal and an assist. The young midfielder was central to the Gunners' early dominance, orchestrating the opening strike with a dazzling turn that left Girona defender Moreno off‑balance before slipping a perfectly weighted through‑ball to Kai Havertz.
Havertz, calm as ever, slotted the ball into the bottom left corner, giving Arsenal a deserved lead. The excitement continued when debutant Christos Tzolis added his name to the scoresheet. After a swift counter‑attack, Tzolis found himself one‑on‑one with goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
His low, driven effort glanced off a defender and nestled into the bottom corner, doubling Arsenal's advantage and confirming his immediate impact on the squad. Girona attempted a quick response just after the interval.
A well‑delivered corner found Arnau Martinez, whose powerful header forced the ball into the net, cutting the deficit to two goals. However, the lead was short‑lived.
Merely three minutes later, Dowman unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the box, restoring Arsenal's three‑goal cushion. The goal showcased his ability to shoot from distance with both power and precision. Later in the half, a defensive mix‑up on the Girona side allowed Gabriel Jesus to pounce on a loose ball at the edge of the penalty area. The seasoned striker calmly wrapped his foot around the ball and finished with composure, sealing a comfortable win for the visitors.
Both managers made a raft of substitutions after the third goal, fielding a line‑up heavily populated by academy graduates. Despite the experimental nature of the side, Arsenal maintained control and never looked threatened, demonstrating the depth of talent in Mikel Arteta's squad as they prepare for their upcoming friendly against Real Betis in Dublin. Key moments of the match were highlighted by the broadcast: - Minute 16: Dowman's magical turn and incisive pass set up Havertz's opening goal. - Minute 17: Lewis‑Skelly delivered a lofted ball to Havertz, whose low cross was safely saved by Gazzaniga.
- Minute 26: Tzolis received a neat through‑ball from Calafiori but chose the wrong option, leading to a blocked shot. - Minute 32: Tzolis rewarded his early work with a low, driven strike that deflected and found the bottom corner. - Minute 50: Girona's Martinez headed a corner powerfully into the top left corner.
- Minute 53: Dowman cut inside onto his favored left foot and smashed a powerful shot past the keeper. - Minute 55: A ricochet fell to an unmarked Gabriel Jesus, who finished confidently. Arsenal were missing five of the seven attackers who featured in their recent Champions League final loss to Paris Saint‑Germain, yet the gaps were barely noticeable.
Dowman's creative flair, combined with a rejuvenated Havertz, offers Artart a fresh option in the coveted No 10 role—a position already well‑served by captain Martin Ødegaard and the returning Eberechi Eze. Tzolis, another recent signing, proved he is more than a peripheral winger.
In his 60‑minute cameo he linked seamlessly with fellow academy graduate Riccardo Calafiori, creating several dangerous moments on the left flank before capping his performance with a goal. His debut suggests he could become a regular source of energy and width for the Gunners.
Myles Lewis‑Skelly, known for his tireless work‑rate and defensive discipline, once again displayed his progressive passing range. He consistently found space to deliver intelligent forward passes, most notably connecting with Dowman for Arsenal's third goal.
His evolution from a purely defensive midfielder to a more rounded playmaker adds another layer to Arsenal's midfield options. The overall impression was clear: Arsenal's attacking unit, which endured criticism for inconsistency last season, appears to have matured into one of the club's strongest assets.
Arteta reinforced this sentiment, stating the club is "very ambitious" and "really active" in the summer market, especially regarding a potential move for Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior. While Spanish media report that the Brazilian is unlikely to leave, Arsenal remain vigilant, monitoring his contract situation closely as he approaches the final year of his deal.
So far, Arsenal have only added two new players this summer—Christos Tzolis and goalkeeper Illan Meslier. When asked about further signings, Arteta emphasized the club's proactive approach: "We are really active, trying to improve and evolve the team.
We expect movements in the next few weeks because we want to get better, like everybody else. We won't sit still, and we are very ambitious in what we want to achieve." A light‑hearted moment occurred when a reporter jokingly asked when Vinícius would join Arsenal. Arteta simply laughed and moved on, underscoring the club's focus on preparation rather than speculation.
Overall, the match offered a vivid snapshot of Arsenal's evolving style: a blend of youthful exuberance, tactical flexibility, and a clear intent to compete at the highest level in the upcoming season. The Gunners now head to Dublin for their next pre‑season test, carrying the confidence of a dominant performance and the promise of a squad that is both deep and dynamic.