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Arsenal 2–3 Borussia Dortmund: All Goals & Highlights as BVB Win the Emirates Cup

August 10, 2026


Borussia Dortmund defeated Arsenal 3–2 in the 2026 Emirates Cup final. Samuele Inacio, Konstantinos Karetsas and Joane Gadou scored for BVB, while Ethan Nwaneri and Viktor Gyökeres replied for Arsenal.

🏆 Arsenal 2–3 Borussia Dortmund: Dortmund Survive a Thrilling Emirates Cup Final

The Emirates Stadium was supposed to provide Arsenal with the perfect ending to their pre-season campaign.

Instead, Borussia Dortmund turned the afternoon into a statement of their own.

In front of their home supporters, Arsenal fell 3–2 to Borussia Dortmund in a five-goal Emirates Cup final that produced attacking football, spectacular individual moments and a dramatic second half.

Dortmund raced into a 2–0 lead during the opening half through Samuele Inacio and new signing Konstantinos Karetsas, before Arsenal fought back after the break.

Ethan Nwaneri reduced the deficit, only for Joane Gadou to restore Dortmund's two-goal advantage just four minutes later.

Arsenal responded once again through Viktor Gyökeres from the penalty spot, but despite late pressure, Mikel Arteta's side could not find a third goal.

The final whistle confirmed a 3–2 victory for Borussia Dortmund. The result was officially recorded by both clubs, with Dortmund describing Karetsas' debut goal as a dream start to his BVB career.

⚽ Match Overview

Competition: Emirates Cup 2026

Match: Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund

Venue: Emirates Stadium, London

Date: August 9, 2026

Final Score: Arsenal 2–3 Borussia Dortmund

⚽ Goals

🇩🇪 Borussia Dortmund

⚽ 7' – Samuele Inacio
⚽ 29' – Konstantinos Karetsas
⚽ 58' – Joane Gadou

🏴 Arsenal

⚽ 54' – Ethan Nwaneri
⚽ 69' – Viktor Gyökeres (pen.)

Dortmund's official match report confirmed the complete scoring sequence and described the 3–2 victory as another positive step in their pre-season preparations.

🔥 Dortmund Strike First

Arsenal started the match with plenty of attacking intent.

The home side created an early opportunity from a corner, but Dortmund goalkeeper Alexander Meyer reacted quickly to keep the ball out.

Then came the first surprise.

In the seventh minute, Dortmund moved forward at speed. A quick combination involving Fabio Silva and Felix Nmecha released Samuele Inacio, who finished calmly into the far corner.

Arsenal 0–1 Dortmund.

It was a beautifully constructed counterattack and an early warning that Dortmund were not at the Emirates simply to defend.

The goal also gave Niko Kovač's side confidence.

🌟 Karetsas Announces Himself With a Wonder Goal

If Inacio's goal was about speed and combination play, Dortmund's second was about individual brilliance.

With the first half approaching the 30-minute mark, Arsenal allowed Konstantinos Karetsas too much room on the edge of the penalty area.

The new Dortmund signing needed only a moment.

He controlled the situation before curling a superb left-footed shot into the corner.

2–0 Dortmund.

It was Karetsas' first appearance for Borussia Dortmund and his first goal for the club.

A dream debut could hardly have been scripted better.

Dortmund's official report specifically highlighted the goal as a "dream goal" and noted that Karetsas had joined the club only days before the match.

⏱ Arsenal Search for a Response

Two goals behind at home, Arsenal pushed forward before half-time.

Viktor Gyökeres was one of the main attacking threats, testing the Dortmund defence with his movement and shooting.

He had already threatened from a free kick and later produced a dangerous effort after turning inside the penalty area.

Arsenal also created opportunities through headers from Gabriel and Kai Havertz, but neither found the target.

Dortmund therefore went into the interval with a deserved 2–0 advantage.

⚡ Nwaneri Gives Arsenal Hope

The second half began with Arsenal looking much more aggressive.

The pressure finally paid off in the 54th minute.

A cross from a central position found Ethan Nwaneri, who calmly finished to bring Arsenal back into the contest.

Arsenal 1–2 Dortmund.

The Emirates suddenly had its voice again.

After appearing comfortable for much of the opening half, Dortmund were now under serious pressure.

Arsenal had momentum.

But Dortmund had another answer.

💥 Gadou Restores Dortmund's Two-Goal Lead

Only four minutes after Nwaneri's goal, Dortmund struck again.

Following a corner, Fabio Silva flicked the ball on, allowing Joane Gadou to meet it in the air.

The young defender made no mistake.

Arsenal 1–3 Dortmund.

The goal was particularly memorable for Gadou, who was celebrating his first goal for Borussia Dortmund.

It also demonstrated Dortmund's ability to punish Arsenal from set pieces.

The visitors had regained control.

🎯 Gyökeres Keeps Arsenal Alive

Arsenal refused to surrender.

The home side continued to push forward, and Dortmund goalkeeper Alexander Meyer suddenly found himself extremely busy.

He produced important saves against Myles Lewis-Skelly and Max Dowman, keeping Dortmund's advantage intact.

Then, in the 69th minute, Arsenal were awarded a penalty.

Gyökeres stepped up.

The Swedish striker calmly sent the ball into the right corner while Meyer went the opposite way.

Arsenal 2–3 Dortmund.

The Emirates believed again.

There was still enough time for Arsenal to find an equaliser.

😱 A Late Arsenal Fightback

The final stages became increasingly tense.

Arsenal pushed Dortmund deeper, while the German side looked for opportunities to exploit the spaces left behind by the hosts.

With numerous substitutions disrupting the rhythm, however, neither team managed to create another clear-cut opportunity.

Arsenal thought they had found a late equaliser through Gabriel Martinelli, but the effort was ruled out for offside, according to match coverage.

The final whistle eventually arrived.

Arsenal 2–3 Borussia Dortmund.

Dortmund had survived.

🧠 Tactical Analysis

🔴 Arsenal

Arsenal's biggest problem was the contrast between their first and second-half performances.

They controlled long periods of possession but were vulnerable when Dortmund attacked quickly.

After the break, Arsenal increased the intensity and created significantly more pressure, but conceding immediately after Nwaneri's goal made the comeback much harder.

Tactical Rating

⭐ 8.3/10

There were encouraging attacking moments, particularly after half-time, but defensive concentration remains an area for improvement.

🟡 Borussia Dortmund

Dortmund's first-half performance was excellent.

They defended intelligently, attacked with speed and punished Arsenal whenever space appeared.

The combination of Inacio, Karetsas and Gadou provided the three goals, while goalkeeper Alexander Meyer made several important saves during Arsenal's comeback.

Tactical Rating

⭐ 9.2/10

A highly effective performance, particularly in transition and from set pieces.

⭐ Players Who Stood Out

🥇 Konstantinos Karetsas — ⭐ 9.6/10

A dream debut.

The young midfielder scored a spectacular goal and immediately gave Dortmund supporters something to remember.

🥈 Samuele Inacio — ⭐ 9.2/10

His seventh-minute finish provided Dortmund with the perfect start.

🥉 Joane Gadou — ⭐ 9.1/10

Scored his first goal for Dortmund and produced an important defensive performance.

⭐ Viktor Gyökeres — ⭐ 8.9/10

Scored from the penalty spot and remained one of Arsenal's most dangerous attacking players.

⭐ Ethan Nwaneri — ⭐ 8.8/10

His goal gave Arsenal genuine hope of completing the comeback.

📊 Final Score

Statistic Arsenal Borussia Dortmund
Goals 2 3
Half-time score 0 2
Result Loss Win
Competition Emirates Cup Emirates Cup

The official Dortmund report confirms that the German side led 2–0 at half-time before Arsenal reduced the deficit twice during the second half.

🏆 What the Result Means

For Borussia Dortmund, winning at the Emirates represents an encouraging conclusion to their pre-season preparations.

The victory also provided several individual positives.

Inacio scored.

Karetsas scored on his debut.

Gadou scored his first goal for the club.

And Alexander Meyer produced a series of important saves.

Dortmund's sporting director Lars Ricken also praised the contribution of the younger players, noting that the goals came from two 18-year-olds and a 19-year-old, while emphasizing the importance of the experienced players around them.

For Arsenal, the defeat is less concerning in the context of pre-season, but the match exposed some issues that Arteta will want to address before competitive football begins.

🏁 Final Thoughts

Arsenal 2–3 Borussia Dortmund was exactly the type of pre-season match supporters want to see.

Five goals.

A comeback attempt.

A spectacular debut goal.

Young players making their mark.

And a tense finish at the Emirates.

Dortmund appeared to have the game under control after Inacio and Karetsas gave them a two-goal lead.

But Arsenal refused to disappear.

Nwaneri pulled one back.

Gadou restored Dortmund's advantage.

Then Gyökeres converted from the penalty spot to set up a dramatic final 20 minutes.

Arsenal pushed.

Dortmund resisted.

And when the final whistle arrived, the visitors had completed an impressive 3–2 victory.

For Dortmund, the Emirates Cup provided a memorable ending to their pre-season.

For Arsenal, it provided one final competitive test before the real business begins.

And for the fans, it delivered an afternoon worth remembering.

🔗 Sources


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