Arsenal kicked off their pre-season schedule in style, overcoming Girona 4-1 to claim the Costa Brava trophy. Goals from Kai Havertz, Christos Tzolis, Max Dowman, and Gabriel Jesus powered Mikel Arteta’s side to a commanding win on Spanish soil.
Havertz and Tzolis both got on the scoresheet, but the real talking point was Dowman. The teenager delivered a memorable display, registering a goal and an assist while building on the promise he showed with the senior squad last term and during Arsenal’s league-winning campaign.
Max Dowman steals the show in Girona rout
Arsenal headed to the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi for their first official friendly after a quiet behind-closed-doors victory over MK Dons the week before. Arteta fielded an adventurous starting XI, with Christos Tzolis, Viktor Gyokeres, and Max Dowman leading the charge, while Kai Havertz and Ethan Nwaneri pulled the strings in midfield.
The game also saw Ben White make his long-awaited return, featuring for the first time since picking up a knee injury against West Ham late last season. That setback had ruled him out of the final stretch of Premier League fixtures and the Champions League final.
Following a scrappy start, Arsenal found the breakthrough through Havertz. Dowman weaved past Alex Moreno with superb close control before slipping the ball to the German, who made no mistake in finishing past former Tottenham keeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Christos Tzolis opens his Arsenal account
Arsenal doubled their advantage just before the half-hour mark, with summer recruit Christos Tzolis smashing a shot into the bottom corner via a deflection.
The visitors took that two-goal cushion into the break, having dominated the closing stages of the first half.
Girona, now preparing for life in Spain’s second tier after dropping out of LaLiga, came out firing after the interval. Arnau Martinez rose highest to head home from a corner, capitalizing on some slack Arsenal defending from the set-piece.
Arsenal seal Costa Brava trophy with emphatic finish
The concession sparked Arsenal into action, and they quickly regained control of the match with two more strikes.
Dowman put the finishing touch on a superb individual performance, lashing a low drive into the bottom corner to restore Arsenal’s two-goal buffer.
Gabriel Jesus then pounced on a defensive error to add a fourth, wrapping up a 4-1 triumph and securing the Costa Brava trophy for the Gunners.