Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund prediction, preview & betting tips – 09/08/2026
Arsenal lifted more silverware in pre-season - Photo by Icon Sport
🔥 Our Hot tip

BTTS - Yes

Four of Arsenal's last five games have seen both teams score.

Arsenal are aiming to win their 10th Emirates Cup when they play Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Gunners have won nine times in the previous 14 editions, including the last four.

Meanwhile, this will be Dortmund's first appearance in the competition, and they are bidding to become just the second German team to win it after Hamburg in 2008.

Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.

Arsenal vs. Borussia Dortmund key stats

  • Arsenal have won two of their three pre-season friendlies (L1).
  • Dortmund have had mixed results in pre-season (W2, L2).
  • There has only been one draw in the previous eight H2Hs (Arsenal W4, Dortmund W3).

Arsenal vs. Borussia Dortmund preview: Gunners to get back firing?

Arsenal vs Dortmund — Tale of the Tape

Arsenal vs Dortmund
1st (Premier League)Position2nd (Bundesliga)
85Points73
71Goals For70
27Goals Against34
19Clean Sheets15
1stHome / Away Rank2nd

After successive three-goal wins in their opening two pre-season friendlies, Arsenal suffered a setback in Dublin with a 3-1 defeat to Real Betis.

Admittedly, the Spanish outfit are further ahead in their preparations, but the Gunners were still sloppy and gave away some uncharacteristically cheap goals.

Focus now turns on their first game back at the Emirates since winning the Premier League title, where expected new signing Bruno Guimaraes could be unveiled to the crowd.

Captain Martin Odegaard could also feature for Mikel Arteta's side for the first time since the World Cup, as Arsenal look to build everyone's fitness ahead of trying to win back-to-back titles for the first time in the Premier League era.

Dortmund, like the Gunners in recent seasons, have plenty of experience being the bridesmaids in their domestic league, and they finished second once again to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga last campaign.

Bayern have won 13 of the last 14 titles available with the exception of Bayer Leverkusen in 2023/24, so it is very difficult for Dortmund or any other German club to finish above them.

Nonetheless, Niko Kovac is the man tasked with trying to do just that, and has been backed with signings including promising youngster Konstantinos Karetsas, who could make his debut.

However, Carney Chukwuemeka is unlikely to feature after suffering an injury in a previous friendly, while Emre Can and Nico Schlotterbeck are long-term absentees.

Arsenal vs. Borussia Dortmund form guide & betting tips

Arsenal vs. Dortmund — Last 5 Form Guide
Arsenal vs Dortmund
WLWWL
Form
WWLLW
11Goals For7
6Goals Against4
WWL
Friendlies
LLW

Whispers predicts: Arsenal 2-1 Borussia Dortmund

*odds unavailable at time of writing

While odds are currently unavailable, we expect Arsenal to be installed as the favourites with home advantage.

While we would agree with the bookies, we think Dortmund could still cause them problems, and so BTTS – Yes could be worth exploring.

Christos Tzolis has been a bright spark for the Gunners in pre-season, with the new signing picking up another assist against Betis to make it three goal contributions in three appearances (G1, A2).

Tzolis to score or assist therefore would be another recommended bet of ours, while Correct score – 2-1 should have relatively high odds and could be an outside pick as we expect Arsenal to edge a close game.

📈 Arsenal vs. Dortmund — Whispers' Tips

> BTTS – Yes at N/A | Likelihood: Possible

> Tzolis to score or assist at N/A | Likelihood: Possible

> Correct score – 2-1 at N/A | Likelihood: Possible


Adam is a lead writer on Football Whispers. He is a big Arsenal fan, and also follows his local club Wealdstone, made famous by The Wealdstone Raider, who he has interviewed. Adam also follows darts, boxing, cricket and tennis, among many other sports.