Arsenal opened their preseason campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over Girona this Saturday. The match highlighted the talent of 16-year-old Max Dowman, who delivered a standout performance. Dowman set up the opening goal in the 16th minute with a precise through ball for Kai Havertz, who finished past Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
New arrival Christos Tzolis added to the scoreline on his debut. The Greek forward moved to the club from Club Brugge for 34 million pounds. His goal in the 30th minute extended the lead after a deflected shot beat the defense. While Girona pulled one back early in the second half through a header by Arnau Martínez, Arsenal quickly responded.
Max Dowman continued his strong display by scoring from the edge of the box shortly after, following a pass from Myles Lewis-Skelly. Gabriel Jesus secured the win for the Gunners later in the half, scoring after an interception by Ben White punished the Girona back line. The match featured 26 total substitutions, which disrupted the flow in the final stages, but the result stands as a clear statement for the team's preseason preparations.
Arsenal now moves to Dublin for their next match against Real Betis this Wednesday. This win marks a positive start for the squad following their recent competitive history. The performance of young players like Dowman indicates a strong pipeline for the upcoming season.