Arsenal vs. Como: Will Cesc Fabregas be given a good reception by the Emirates Stadium?

By Ben Knapton | 10 Aug 2026 19:01, Last updated: 10 Aug 2026 19:03

Ahead of Arsenal's pre-season affable with Como connected Wednesday night, Sports Mole's Site Coordinator Ben Knapton discusses a Gunners instrumentality for the Italian club's caput manager Cesc Fabregas.

Ben Knapton, Site Coordinator: "It's going to beryllium truly absorbing to spot the reception Fabregas gets"

They were 1 of the due astonishment packages successful Europe past year, and they're going to play successful the Champions League adjacent year, truthful this could beryllium a precursor to different European lucifer for Arsenal. 

They got 71 points, which is unthinkable for a nine that's rather good financially backed with a precise bully manager successful Cesc Fabregas. 

It's going to beryllium truly absorbing to spot the reception Fabregas gets... he went connected onslaught and refused to bid to get that determination done to Barcelona, though Barcelona were besides tapping him up. 

The Barcelona players astatine the clip were truly talking up the move. So determination are tons of mixed feelings towards Fabregas from the Emirates faithful, possibly leaning much towards him being a snake, oregon conscionable an ambivalent broadside alternatively than a lukewarm invited back. 

But he's done precise good astatine Como, with links to Liverpool and different large clubs, truthful it volition beryllium fascinating to spot what helium tin bash successful the Champions League this year. 

They've had rather mixed pre-season signifier truthful far. Como mislaid to Villarreal connected penalties, and lone bushed a Portuguese side, Famalicao, 3-2 past clip out, with a brace from the Greek striker Douvikas, who got 14 Serie A goals past season. 

Arsenal's defence is simply a spot hotchpotch again, truthful you'd expect him to instrumentality vantage of that. Thankfully for Arsenal, I'm not definite the 2 playmakers, Nico Paz and Baturina, person returned yet. 

I haven't seen immoderate steadfast reports connected whether they'll beryllium progressive successful this one. But they've got tons of some young endowment and experience. Alvaro Morata is connected the books astatine Como; he's really lone 33, though helium feels similar 1 of those players who has been astir for truthful long. 

Same with Ricardo Rodriguez. When we did our World Cup podcast, we mentioned however he's lone 33 contempt being astir for years. 

Morata and Douvikas volition feature, depending connected whether Paz plays, which I'd beryllium amazed by. Baturina, I'm not definite about, and they've got Perrone arsenic well, a antiaircraft midfielder formerly of Man City.

Either way, they tin surely origin Arsenal problems. Above each else, I'm truly intrigued to spot what reception Fabregas gets.

The Barcelona saga with him lasted a bully 18 months earlier helium really left. That's the biggest subplot successful this game. From an Arsenal fan's perspective, hopefully they tin unopen up store defensively. 

David Raya is backmost with the squad present for this treble match, having chopped his vacation short. Same with Bukayo Saka. 

I'm not definite if Rice, Zubimendi oregon Merino volition instrumentality for this one; they mightiness wrapper them successful fabric wool for the Community Shield and for Coventry. Either way, it's going to beryllium an breathtaking game.