1 August 2026

Arsenal youngster Max Dowman produced the standout display as the Gunners secured an impressive 4-1 victory over Girona on Saturday evening, with Kai Havertz and Christos Tzolis also on the scoresheet.

After impressing on tour with the first-team squad last summer and then playing a major part in Arsenal’s Premier League title-winning campaign, Dowman now appears ready to take another step forward after scoring once and providing an assist in the win at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi.

Arsenal’s visit to Spain was their first official pre-season fixture, following last weekend’s behind-closed-doors friendly win over MK Dons, and Mikel Arteta selected a notably attack-minded starting line-up.

Tzolis was joined in the forward line by Viktor Gyokeres and Dowman, while Havertz and Ethan Nwaneri provided support from midfield.

There was also a significant fitness boost for Arsenal as Ben White made his first appearance since suffering a knee injury against West Ham near the end of last season, an issue that ruled him out of the remaining Premier League matches as well as the Champions League final.

Following a scrappy opening 10 minutes in Spain, Arsenal went ahead when Dowman showed excellent close control to spin away from Alex Moreno before finding Havertz’s run through the centre, and the German calmly slotted past former Tottenham goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

Then, just before the half-hour mark, summer signing Tzolis doubled Arsenal’s advantage for the interval as his effort found the bottom corner via a deflection.

Girona, who are preparing for life in the Spanish second division after being relegated from LaLiga, pulled one back early in the second half through a powerful Arnau Martinez header after Arsenal failed to mark properly from a corner.

But that goal only seemed to spark Arsenal into life, and two quick strikes soon put the game beyond the home side.

First, Dowman fired into the bottom corner, before Gabriel Jesus took advantage of a defensive mistake to get on the scoresheet as well, sealing victory for the Gunners and a pre-season trophy.