Photo: Payo / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
Arsenal began their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with a 3-0 victory over MK Dons in a behind-closed-doors fixture at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Saturday.
New signing Christos Tzolis made his debut and assisted the opening goal, set up for Reiss Nelson after just 10 minutes. Ethan Nwaneri added a second before half-time, and Ceadach O'Neill completed the scoring in the second half.
Tzolis was involved almost immediately, feeding Nelson inside the box within the first minute, though that early effort was blocked by MK Dons goalkeeper Craig MacGillvary. The Greek winger combined with left-back Riccardo Calafiori to create Arsenal's opener, finding Nelson a second time to allow the Englishman to smash into the bottom corner.
Nwaneri doubled the lead on 39 minutes, curling a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after a well-worked corner routine.
Mikel Arteta made eight changes at half-time, giving the second half a notably youthful character. Only goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marli Salmon and Louie Copley continued from the opening period.
Another summer arrival, goalkeeper Illan Meslier, came on for his debut in the 59th minute alongside academy products Theo Julienne and Marcell Washington. O'Neill rounded off the scoring when he latched onto a chipped ball from Demiane Agustien and rifled into the near post.
Meslier denied MK Dons' Daniel Barlaser with a late save to preserve the clean sheet. Arsenal travel to Girona next for their pre-season training camp.