Football fans searching for the Arsenal vs Dortmund final score now have their answer. Borussia Dortmund pulled off a spirited comeback-resisting win over Arsenal in the 2026 Emirates Cup Final, holding off a second-half fightback from the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium. Here’s a complete, up-to-date breakdown of the final result, the goals, and everything happening around this match.
Arsenal vs Dortmund: Final Score and Match Details
Arsenal 2-3 Borussia Dortmund
- Match: Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund
- Competition: Emirates Cup 2026 Final (pre-season friendly)
- Date: Sunday, August 9, 2026
- Kick-off: 2:00 PM BST
- Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
- Result: Full-time, 90+3 minutes — no extra time or penalties required
How the Match Unfolded
Borussia Dortmund made the stronger start at the Emirates. In just the 6th minute, defender Samuele Inácio fired the visitors ahead, capitalising on space in behind Arsenal’s backline. Dortmund then doubled their advantage in the 29th minute through a stunning individual effort from summer signing Konstantinos Karetsas, who picked up a loose ball in midfield, drove into the box, and curled a left-footed screamer into the top corner — a standout moment on his Borussia Dortmund debut.
Arsenal went into the break trailing 0-2, despite enjoying spells of pressure through Viktor Gyökeres, Gabriel Magalhães, and Kai Havertz, who were all denied by a resolute Dortmund defence marshalled by goalkeeper Alexander Meyer.
The second half brought a response from the Gunners. Ethan Nwaneri pulled one back for Arsenal after being picked out inside the box by a clever pass from Christos Tzolis, cutting the deficit to 1-2. Dortmund quickly restored their two-goal cushion, however, as Joane Gadou reacted fastest to a loose ball from a corner routine to make it 1-3. Arsenal continued to push forward, with a converted finish from Viktor Gyökeres bringing the Gunners back within a goal at 2-3 — but despite a frantic finish and further pressure deep into stoppage time, the Gunners couldn’t find a leveller, and Borussia Dortmund held on to claim the 2026 Emirates Cup with a 3-2 win.
Team News and Key Storylines
- Martin Ødegaard’s return: Arsenal’s captain made his first appearance since returning from international duty with Norway at the World Cup, leading the side out at the Emirates once again.
- Bruno Guimarães unveiled: Arsenal’s marquee summer signing, midfielder Bruno Guimarães, who joined from Newcastle United in a deal worth around £75 million, was presented to fans ahead of kick-off, though he was not included in the matchday squad for this fixture.
- Squad rotation: Both sides were missing several stars who featured deep into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including Arsenal’s Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Zubimendi, while Dortmund were without injured defenders Nico Schlotterbeck and Waldemar Anton.
- Arsenal’s pre-season form: The Gunners entered this match looking to bounce back after a 3-1 defeat to Real Betis in Dublin, having earlier beaten Girona 4-1.
- Dortmund’s build-up: Niko Kovač’s side arrived at the Emirates having split their last four pre-season friendlies, including wins over Rot-Weiss Oberhausen and FC Tokyo.
Arsenal vs Dortmund: Where to Watch
For fans looking to catch the live action or highlights, Arsenal are streaming the match for free via their official YouTube channel in most territories, with highlights also expected to be uploaded after the final whistle:
Arsenal FC Official YouTube Channel
What’s Next for Both Clubs
This is Arsenal’s penultimate pre-season fixture, with one more friendly against Serie A side Como at the Emirates on August 12, 2026, before the Gunners begin their competitive season against Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 16 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Their Premier League title defence then begins at home against newly-promoted Coventry City.
Borussia Dortmund, meanwhile, have one final pre-season test against Roma before opening their season in the German Super Cup against Bayern Munich. Karetsas’s stunning strike and the disciplined defensive display will offer Niko Kovač plenty of encouragement heading into that clash.
What was the final score of Arsenal vs Dortmund?
Borussia Dortmund won 3-2 against Arsenal in the 2026 Emirates Cup Final, played at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
Who scored the goals in Arsenal vs Dortmund?
Samuele Inácio (6′) and Konstantinos Karetsas (29′) put Dortmund 2-0 up in the first half. Ethan Nwaneri (2nd half) pulled one back for Arsenal, before Joane Gadou restored Dortmund’s two-goal cushion. Viktor Gyökeres then scored for Arsenal to make it 2-3, but the Gunners couldn’t find an equaliser.
Did the Arsenal vs Dortmund match go to penalties?
No. Despite some conflicting early live-blog headlines suggesting a shootout, the match was decided in normal time, ending 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund after 90+3 minutes, with no extra time or penalty shootout required.
Is the Emirates Cup a competitive trophy?
No. The Emirates Cup is a pre-season friendly exhibition hosted by Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, used by both clubs primarily for fitness and squad preparation ahead of the new season. It carries no competitive league or cup significance.
Why wasn’t Bruno Guimarães in the Arsenal squad?
Arsenal’s big-money summer signing Bruno Guimarães, who joined from Newcastle United for around £75 million, was unveiled to fans ahead of kick-off but was not included in the matchday squad for this particular fixture.
What’s next for Arsenal after this match?
Arsenal play one more pre-season friendly against Serie A side Como at the Emirates on August 12, 2026, before facing Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 16 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, followed by their Premier League opener against newly-promoted Coventry City.
Final Word
With goals flying in from both ends at the Emirates, this Arsenal vs Dortmund clash lived up to its billing as the standout fixture of this year’s Emirates Cup. Karetsas’s stunning solo goal ultimately proved the difference, as Borussia Dortmund held off a spirited Arsenal fightback to win the 2026 Emirates Cup Final 3-2 — a useful, if not definitive, gauge of where both sides stand ahead of the 2026-27 season.
