Liam Duckstein
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Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal welcome Cesc Fàbregas and Como to the Emirates Stadium for a pre-season friendly on August 12, 2026. The intriguing subplot here is obvious: Fàbregas, a former Arsenal midfielder who spent eight years at the club, returns to his old ground now wearing a manager’s badge. That connection alone makes this more than just a routine summer fixture.
Arsenal arrive into this match in mixed form, having won just one of their last three games. Como, by contrast, have gone four games unbeaten heading into this contest, picking up two wins and two draws. The Italians have quietly been one of the more consistent sides in this summer’s friendly schedule, and they should not be taken lightly.
Keep an eye on Viktor Gyökeres, who has been sharp in front of goal for Arsenal this pre-season, registering a goal and showing seven total shots across three outings. For Como, Christos Tzolis stands out with three goals and two assists in his last five appearances, making him the most dangerous player Fàbregas has at his disposal right now.
Hot stat: Arsenal have conceded in all three of their most recent matches, letting in a combined nine goals across those games, which is a concern for a side of their calibre even in pre-season.
| 🏆 Tournament: | International Club Friendly 2026 – August |
| 🏟 Venue: | Emirates Stadium, London |
| 🗓️ Date: | 12.08.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 20:30 CEST |
Arsenal vs Como Prediction
Despite Arsenal’s defensive fragility in recent weeks, the home advantage and squad depth at the Emirates should be enough to see them through. The Gunners have the quality to control possession and create enough chances against a Como side that is still building its identity under Fàbregas. We predict an Arsenal win, but the clean sheet looks far from guaranteed given how porous they have been at the back lately.
The best value play here is Arsenal to win and both teams to score. Arsenal’s attack has the firepower through Gyökeres, Tzolis, and Kai Havertz to find the net, but Como have shown enough attacking intent in their recent matches to threaten. Fàbregas set up his side in a 4-2-3-1 shape across all five recent games, which is an attack-minded system designed to press high and transition quickly. That approach could expose Arsenal’s backline.
Arsenal’s passing volume is substantial, averaging over 300 passes per match in their five recent games, with a solid accuracy rate. They tend to dominate the ball, which should translate into corner kicks and set-piece opportunities. Arsenal’s 14 corners across their last five matches supports a prediction of over 8.5 corners in this fixture. Their foul count is moderate, suggesting Arteta prefers a cleaner, technical press rather than a physical one. Como’s data is unavailable in detail, but their recent results show they are competitive enough to force Arsenal into errors.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | Arsenal to Win & Both Teams to Score |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | Yes |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 8.5 |
Team Analysis
Arsenal’s pre-season has been a story of attacking promise undermined by defensive inconsistency. In their last three matches, they beat Girona 4-1 but then lost 1-3 to Real Betis and 2-3 to Borussia Dortmund. The win over Girona showed what this squad is capable of at its best, with fluid attacking combinations and clinical finishing. The defeats, though, highlighted a backline that has looked vulnerable to quick, direct opposition play.
Going further back, Arsenal lost 4-5 to Paris Saint Germain and beat Crystal Palace 2-1, meaning they have won just two of their last five across all competitions. Gyökeres, Havertz, and Tzolis have all contributed goals, and the attacking unit looks lively. The concern sits at the other end, where Arsenal have conceded multiple goals in three of their last five outings. Arteta will want to see a more structured defensive shape before the competitive season begins.
Como have been quietly impressive this summer. Their last five results include wins over Famalicao (3-2), Al Ula (3-1), and Cremonese (4-1), with draws against Villarreal (1-1) and Paris (2-2). The draw against Villarreal is particularly telling as it shows Como can hold their own against established European competition. Fàbregas has his side playing with a clear identity in the 4-2-3-1, and the results reflect a team that is well-organised and capable of scoring goals. They have not lost in four matches, which is a strong platform heading into a trip to the Emirates.
Most Recent Head-to-Head Matches
These two clubs have very limited head-to-head history. The data available shows only the current fixture in this friendly tournament, with no prior competitive or friendly meetings on record.
🚨Check out our dedicated Arsenal vs Como stats page for more info.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Arsenal the favourite
- Moneyline Arsenal 1.52 | Como 6.65
- Draw 5.00
- Over/Under Over 2.5 — | Under 2.5 —
- BTTS (both teams to score) Yes — | No —
The odds paint Arsenal as heavy favourites, and that is understandable given the home advantage and squad quality. Pinnacle’s market-leading price of 1.52 for Arsenal is the most honest reflection of probability here, and it still represents a relatively short price for a friendly where rotation is common. Como at 6.65 is generous if you believe in Fàbregas’s system and their recent form. To be honest, the draw at 5.00 is not completely without merit given Arsenal’s shaky recent results, but it is not where the value sits. Arsenal to win at 1.52 from Pinnacle is the sharpest price available and the most sensible base for any bet.
Possible Starting Lineups
Arsenal possible starting eleven
- GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga
- DF: Ben White, Gabriel dos Santos Magalhães, Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly
- MF: Ethan Nwaneri, Max Dowman, Fábio Vieira
- FW: Christos Tzolis, Viktor Gyökeres, Kai Havertz
Arteta has favoured a 4-3-3 shape across his recent matches, and this lineup reflects the players who have accumulated the most minutes in the latest five games. Kepa Arrizabalaga takes the gloves, having played more minutes than the other goalkeepers in the squad. Myles Lewis-Skelly has been one of the most active players in terms of passing volume, clocking over 170 passes across three appearances. Up front, Gyökeres leads the line with seven shots in three games, making him the most likely source of goals. Tzolis deserves particular attention with three goals and two assists in his recent outings, making him perhaps the most in-form attacker in the squad right now.
Como possible starting eleven
No player data is available for Como’s recent lineups, so a confirmed starting eleven cannot be provided at this stage. Fàbregas has consistently used a 4-2-3-1 formation across all five recent matches, which gives a structural indication of how Como will set up, but individual player selections remain unknown ahead of this fixture.
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Como. Source: Official Website
TipsGG Match Prediction
Arsenal should win this match at the Emirates, but the margin of victory is far from a certainty. Their attacking output has been strong, with Gyökeres and Tzolis both in good touch, and playing at home in front of their own fans adds another layer of motivation. The problem is a defence that has looked open all pre-season, and Como’s 4-2-3-1 system is built to exploit exactly that kind of space on the counter.
We predict an Arsenal win with goals at both ends. The Gunners have enough quality to take the three points, but Fàbregas knows this stadium well and will have his side prepared. An Arsenal win with over 2.5 goals and both teams scoring is our headline call, backed by the attacking trends from both sides across their recent fixtures. The corner market also looks appealing given Arsenal’s passing and territorial dominance, with over 8.5 corners a reasonable expectation.
