Arsenal lineup vs. Borussia Dortmund: Predicted XI for Emirates Cup including Gabriel, Martin Odegaard decisions

By Ben Knapton | 07 Aug 2026 13:09

Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard could beryllium successful enactment for his archetypal quality of pre-season successful Sunday's Emirates Cup lucifer against Borussia Dortmund.

The Norway playmaker has returned to grooming aft his tally to the World Cup quarter-finals, but Wednesday's 3-1 nonaccomplishment to Real Betis came excessively soon for him to beryllium involved.

However, having been enactment done his paces astatine London Colney, Odegaard is expected to marque the matchday squad this weekend, but immoderate quality for the skipper volition astir surely travel from the bench.

As a result, Kai Havertz and Myles Lewis-Skelly are expected to proceed successful the motor room, but determination is scope for Fabio Vieira to dislodge Ethan Nwaneri, whose show against Betis near thing to beryllium desired.

With Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke inactive connected holiday, Max Dowman is Arsenal's go-to right-winger, but Gabriel Martinelli is simply a campaigner to regenerate Christos Tzolis, frankincense allowing the Greek a due invited erstwhile helium comes disconnected the bench.

Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes some played 30 minutes of Wednesday's decision pursuing their holidays, and the brace could present get either 45 oregon 60 minutes nether their belts from the archetypal whistle.

Gabriel's imaginable instrumentality to the backline could spot Riccardo Calafiori marque way, portion Kepa Arrizabalaga's error-strewn show against Real Betis should tempt Mikel Arteta into giving Illan Meslier a run-out.

Arsenal imaginable starting lineup:

Meslier; White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Hincapie; Vieira, Lewis-Skelly, Havertz; Dowman, Gyokeres, Martinelli