Arsenal secures 3-0 victory over MK Dons in pre-season friendly
Arsenal commenced their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with a 3-0 win against MK Dons in a behind-closed-doors match held at the Sobha Realty Training Centre. The match saw goals from Reiss Nelson, Ethan Nwaneri, and Ceadach O’Neill.
The game marked an unofficial debut for new signing Christos Tzolis, who joined from Club Brugge in a £34 million move. Tzolis made an immediate impact, assisting Nelson’s opening goal in the tenth minute. Nelson, returning from a loan spell at Brentford, found the bottom corner of the net after receiving a pass from the Greek winger.
First Half Action and New Signings
Tzolis, playing on the left wing, demonstrated good link-up play with left-back Riccardo Calafiori. The duo worked the ball around the MK Dons defence before Tzolis set up Nelson for the first goal. On the opposite wing, Max Dowman also contributed to the attack, delivering a crossfield pass to Nelson.
MK Dons, a newly promoted League One club, had an opportunity to equalise through forward Callum Paterson, but his effort was saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga. Arsenal extended their lead in the 39th minute when Nwaneri scored. A corner kick found Nwaneri at the edge of the box, and he curled his shot into the bottom corner past goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray.
The first half lineup for Arsenal included Arrizabalaga, Louie Copley, Cristhian Mosquera, Marli Salmon, Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Nelson, Dowman, Tzolis, and Gabriel Jesus. Jesus led the line in the first half. Notably absent from the match were Ben White and Jurrien Timber, who are being eased back into action following injuries, and Fabio Vieira, amid reports of potential transfer talks with Hamburg.
The match provided an early look at some of the new additions and returning players. Tzolis’s debut assist highlighted his potential, building on his previous season where he recorded 29 assists for Club Brugge.
Second Half Changes and Further Goals
Manager Mikel Arteta made significant changes at halftime, introducing eight new players, primarily academy products, to give the second half a more youthful composition. Only Arrizabalaga, Salmon, and Copley remained from the first half side initially. Arrizabalaga was later replaced by Illan Meslier in the 59th minute, who also made his debut. Theo Julienne and Marcell Washington came on for Salmon and Copley respectively.
The changes did not diminish Arsenal‘s attacking threat. The third goal came from Ceadach O’Neill, who latched onto a chipped pass from Demiane Agustien and fired the ball into the near post, once again past MacGillivray. This goal sealed the 3-0 victory for Arsenal.
MK Dons also had chances in the second half. Defender Jack Burke and winger Rushian Hepburn-Murphy both had shots go over the bar. Cohen Bramall, a former Arsenal academy graduate playing for MK Dons, delivered a free-kick that Paterson met, but his header was off target.
Towards the end of the match, Arsenal‘s young side created more opportunities. Ismeal Kabia set up striker Evan Mooney, whose powerful shot hit the underside of the bar. Kabia then had a chance himself after being played through by O’Neill but was denied by MacGillivray. The visitors had one final chance, with Daniel Barlaser‘s low effort saved by Meslier, preserving the clean sheet.
The second half lineup for Arsenal featured Arrizabalaga (Meslier 59′), Ogunnaike, Salmon (Julienne 59′), Clarke, Copley (Washington 59′), Ibrahim, Agustien, O’Neill, Harriman-Annous, Kabia, and Mooney. The team is now set to travel to Girona for their pre-season training camp.
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Source: arsenal.com
