Arsenal vs Como: Club Friendly Match Preview

Arsenal will face Como in their final pre-season friendly of the summer on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at the Emirates Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30pm BST. The fixture will be Arsenal’s last major test before their Community Shield clash with Manchester City on August 16.

The match carries an added storyline as Como are managed by former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas. The Spaniard returns to North London in a managerial role after establishing himself as one of Europe’s exciting young coaches. Como are also preparing for their first-ever UEFA Champions League campaign, making this a valuable test against the reigning English champions.

Arsenal enter the match with strong momentum after an excellent 2025/26 campaign that saw them finish as Premier League champions and reach the Champions League final. Their recent pre-season schedule has included matches against Girona, Real Betis and Borussia Dortmund, giving Mikel Arteta another opportunity to fine-tune his squad before competitive football begins.

Como should provide Arsenal with a different tactical challenge. Under Fàbregas, the Italian side have developed a possession-oriented style and will be keen to demonstrate that they can compete against top-level opposition. Their recent Serie A form was also encouraging, with wins over Cremonese, Parma and Verona helping them finish the previous campaign strongly.

For Arsenal, the main objective will be match fitness, tactical sharpness and building rhythm ahead of the Community Shield. With the new Premier League season approaching, Arteta could use the friendly to give important players further minutes while assessing combinations across the pitch.

Como, meanwhile, have little to lose. A strong performance at the Emirates would provide confidence ahead of their Champions League adventure and give Fàbregas an opportunity to measure his side against one of Europe's elite teams.

This will also be the first meeting between Arsenal and Como, adding another interesting chapter to the fixture.

Match Details

Fixture: Arsenal vs Como
Competition: Club Friendly
Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Kick-off: 7:30pm BST
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
Head-to-head: First meeting

Prediction

Arsenal should have the stronger squad and home advantage, making them the favourites. However, Como’s possession game and Fàbregas’ familiarity with Arsenal could make this a competitive encounter.

Prediction: Arsenal 2–1 Como