Arsenal vs Dortmund Prediction: Betting Tips & Odds

Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund meet at the Emirates on Monday morning New Zealand time in the Emirates Cup, Arsenal’s first home fixture of pre-season and the 15th edition of this annual showpiece.

Both clubs will take this seriously. Arsenal are defending Premier League champions, Dortmund finished second in the Bundesliga. With several World Cup participants returning to their squads, I’d expect more quality than you’d normally get from an early-August friendly.

In this Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund preview, I look at where both sides are at heading into the new season. I’ve also found a goals-market angle worth exploring if you bet on football pre-season.

Arsenal

Arsenal were excellent in Girona, putting four past the Spanish second-tier side with a squad still missing most of their World Cup contingent. Kai Havertz opened the scoring before Christos Tzolis grabbed his first Arsenal goal. Max Dowman, just 16, then scored from range. Viktor Gyokeres came off the bench and added a fourth.

I was less convinced by their 2-1 defeat to Real Betis in Dublin on Tuesday. Betis were sharper and fitter, having already played five friendlies, and Arsenal couldn’t generate much going forward. Piero Hincapie’s header was about the only positive.

Havertz and Gyokeres have looked sharp, though. And Tzolis is going to cause problems once he gets a run alongside the full-strength squad. With the Community Shield against Man City only a week after this, I’d expect Arteta to start integrating some of the returning internationals.

Team News: Saka, Rice, Raya, Zubimendi and Merino are still on extended World Cup breaks. Saliba has a back issue. Timber faces a late fitness test. White returned to training and featured against Betis.

Predicted Lineup: Kepa; White, Hincapie, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Nwaneri, Havertz, Odegaard; Tzolis, Gyokeres, Dowman.

Borussia Dortmund

Niko Kovac’s first pre-season in charge hasn’t been spectacular so far. Dortmund lost 1-0 to Cerezo Osaka on their Japan tour before edging past FC Tokyo by the same scoreline, with Fabio Silva getting the winner. Organised but not particularly threatening going forward.

I’m more interested in their personnel than the results. 

Jobe Bellingham has been given a central role and looks comfortable alongside Felix Nmecha. Joane Gadou, the 19-year-old centre-back signed from Salzburg for around €20 million, has been impressive in the early friendlies. Serhou Guirassy and Maximilian Beier are both options up front once the full squad assembles.

Dortmund finished 16 points off Bayern last season. Kovac needs this pre-season to put his stamp on things, and Arsenal at the Emirates is about as tough a test as he’ll get before the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup.

Team News: Schlotterbeck is recovering from a long-term meniscus injury. Ryerson has a recurring issue from the World Cup and faces a fitness test. Chukwuemeka was forced off injured against FC Tokyo. Emre Can is working his way back from a groin problem.

Predicted Lineup: Kobel; Gadou, Anton, Bensebaini; Ryerson, Nmecha, Bellingham, Svensson; Brandt, Beier; Guirassy.

• Arsenal have scored in all three pre-season matches this summer.
• Dortmund conceded just one goal across two Japan tour fixtures.
• Arsenal won four of eight Champions League meetings between the sides.
• Over 2.5 goals came in during all three of Arsenal’s pre-season outings.
• Dortmund qualified for the Champions League with a second-place Bundesliga finish last season.

I’m tipping Arsenal to win here. 

Even with half their first-choice team still working their way back from the World Cup, the squad depth is ridiculous. Havertz and Gyokeres up front have looked good from the start, and once you add Tzolis and Nwaneri to that mix, it’s a forward line that would give most sides problems.

Dortmund are in a different phase. Kovac is still figuring out his best combinations, and the Japan tour didn’t exactly scream confidence. I could see them being competitive for 60 minutes before Arsenal pull away once the substitutes arrive.

Both teams will score, though. Pre-season at the Emirates means open play and rotations every 20 minutes. I’d expect goals from both ends. If you’re checking new betting sites this week, the BTTS market is where I’d look.

Both Teams to Score and Over 2.5 Goals @ $2.70

Arsenal have scored at least three goals in two of their three friendlies so far. Dortmund have been tight at the back but will need to come out and compete against a side with this much quality. Kovac won’t set his team up to contain Arsenal for 90 minutes.

Both sides are treating pre-season as preparation, not preservation, and that always means end-to-end football once the second-half changes arrive. 

Goals have flowed in every Arsenal friendly this summer, and I’d be surprised if this one bucks the trend at $2.70 on the best online sports betting platforms in New Zealand.