Photo: Payo / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
Arsenal defeated Girona 4-1 in a pre-season friendly at the Montilivi Stadium on Friday, with goals from Kai Havertz, Christos Tzolis, Max Dowman and Gabriel Jesus securing a comfortable win.
Havertz opened the scoring shortly after the quarter-hour mark, running onto a throughball from Dowman before sliding a left-footed finish past the keeper. Tzolis then doubled the lead on the half-hour, advancing into the box from the left and cracking a right-footed shot into the bottom corner for his first goal in Arsenal colours. The Greek winger, 24, joined the club this summer.
Girona briefly threatened a comeback early in the second half when Arnau Martinez headed home an in-swinging corner. Arsenal responded swiftly, however, with two goals in five minutes restoring and extending their advantage.
Dowman struck from long range with his left boot to make it 3-1, before Jesus added the fourth after Ben White won the ball in the Girona half and the Brazilian forward bore down on goal unopposed.
Mikel Arteta made wholesale changes after the fourth goal, introducing nine substitutes including several academy players. Goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who replaced Kepa Arrizabalaga at the break, made two late saves to deny Abel Ruiz.
The result follows a 3-0 behind-closed-doors win over MK Dons the previous weekend. Arsenal's last visit to the Montilivi Stadium was in the 2024/25 Champions League, when they won 2-1 in the league phase. Girona have since been relegated to the second tier of Spanish football.
Arsenal travel to Dublin next, where they face Real Betis on Wednesday. The pre-season schedule also includes the Emirates Cup against Borussia Dortmund on August 9 and a home fixture against Como on August 12, before the Community Shield against Manchester City on August 16.