Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e. V. Dortmund (BVB) provides our next preseason warm-up opponent and may represent a stiffer challenge than we have faced to date. Hopefully, we won’t be as lethargic as we looked in Dublin against Betis. This is also the Grand Final of the 2026 Emirates Cup so there’s silverware (of a sort) at stake!
BVB was founded in 1909 and the name Borussia (Latin for Prussia) was taken from the local Borussia Brewery – football fans appear to have the same interests the world over! The club boasts the second largest membership in Germany after Bayern Munich and allegedly the fifth largest club membership in the world. Wherefore art thou, Arsenal? BVB’s Westfalenstadion is the largest stadium in Germany and contains the notorious Yellow Wall, and the club has the highest average attendance of any football club globally.
Dortmund is the second most decorated German club (after you know who) with 8 Bundesliga titles, 5 DFB-Pokals (equivalent to the FA Cup) and 6 Super Cups (equivalent to the Community Shield). BVB slightly eclipses us in European competition, having won the Champions League in 1997, the European Cup Winners Cup in 1966 and the Intercontinental Cup in 1997 and being runners-up in the Champions League in 2013 and 2024 and in the UEFA Cup/ Europa League in 1993 and 2002. However, their UEFA rank this season has slipped to 10th (Arteta’s Arsenal has risen to 2nd behind Bayern Munich, but astonishingly above PSG and, unsurprisingly, above Real Madrid).
Since Jurgen Klopp departed in 2015, after delivering 2 championships, 1 cup and 2 supercups, BVB has been in a period of flux, appointing 10 coaches and picking up 2 cups and 1 supercup. Their last trophy was the cup in 2021 under interim coach Edin Terzić. The current coach is the Croatian legend, Nico Kovač who was appointed 18 months ago.
Last season, was fairly disappointing for BVB who finished their usual 2nd in the Bundesliga, 16 points behind Bayern Munich, to whom they lost home and away. BVB was surprisingly knocked out of the DFB-Pokal in the ‘round of 16’ by Bayer Leverkusen and finished only 17th in the League Phase of the Champions League, missing the cut for automatic qualification for the Knock Out Phase then losing the play-off to Atalanta 4-3 on aggregate.
Over several decades, BVB have gained a justifiable reputation of developing world class players from a young age and selling them on to bigger clubs (usually Bayern!). Exemplars include Matthias Sammer, Mario Götze, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Ousmane Dembélé.
Looking through their current squad, I don’t see anyone in that class, but that may simply reflect my ignorance rather than a lack of talent. Few names stand out to me, but BVB does still have many experienced internationals despite wide forward Karim Adeyemi, creative midfielder Julian Brandt and defensive midfielder Salih Özcan leaving this summer and centre back Niklas Süle retiring. Nico Schlotterbeck and Emre Can have not yet taken part in pre-season due to injury.
Goalkeeper
Gregor Kobel, first-choice Swiss international goalkeeper, played all league games last season.
Three other keepers didn’t get a look in: Patrick Drewes, Silas Ostrzinsky and Alexander Meyer.
Defence
Nico Schlotterbeck, German international central defender and vice captain;
Waldemar Anton, German international centre back/right back;
Ramy Bensebaini, Algerian international left back/centre back;
Joane Gadou, 19, newly signed, French U-19 international centre back, 19.5m Euros;
Julian Ryerson, Norwegian international fullback/wing-back.
Daniel Svensson, Swedish international fullback;
Luca Reggiani, 18, Italian international defender.
Midfield
Emre Can, experienced German international and team captain;
Jobe Bellingham, England U-21 international defensive midfielder;
Felix Nmecha, press-resistant, box-to-box German international midfielder;
Carney Chukwuemeka, Austrian international attacking midfielder/left winger
Marcel Sabitzer, Austrian international midfielder/winger/second striker;
Konstantinos Karetsas, 18, marquee signing, Greek international playmaker/winger, 30m Euro, slated to replace Brandt.
Justin Lerma, 18, newly signed, Ecuadorean U-20 international playmaker; 4m Euros;
Mussa Kaba, 17, newly signed, German U-17 international defensive midfielder; free.
Attack
Servo Guirassy, Guinean international central striker, 22 goals last season;
Maximilian Beier, German international forward, second striker/winger; 10 goals last season;
Samuele Inácio, 18, newly signed, Italian international forward/attacking midfielder; free;
Fábio Silva. Portuguese international forward; ex-Wolves; underwhelming.
Kovac’s Dortmund is known for a pragmatic, direct, defence-first playing style, centred on a reliable back-three, aggressive physical duels and wing-orientated attacking overloads with fluidly rotating wing-backs and attacking midfielders in a disciplined 3-4-2-1 structure. Kovač prioritises game management and structural discipline over attacking flair, utilising an intense, high-energy press to force turnovers in the opponent’s half. Winning the ball back triggers direct, vertical counter-attacks into open space. Guirassy is the focal point of the attack and acts as a target man but also drops deep to open up space for Beier or inverted midfielders and the Guinean is the primary target for dead-ball situations.
Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund have faced each other eight times, always in the group stage of the Champions League and only this century. We first met in 2002, winning 2-0 at home then losing 1-2 away. Nine years later, we met again, drawing the away game 1-1 and winning the home game 2-1. Two years on, we didn’t do so well, losing 1-2 in London but winning 1- 0 in Dortmund. Only a year later, in 2014, we lost 0-2 away, winning by the same score at home. Thus, our head-to-head record stands at 4 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats.
This game against Arsenal represents BVB’s fifth pre-season friendly, so once again we can expect to face a team that is probably fitter and more match sharp than we are. Since 18 July they have beaten RW Oberhausen 3-1, and Düsseldorf 2-1, lost to Cerezo Osaka 0-1, and beaten FC Tokyo 1-0.
I expect that BVB, like Arsenal, will start their strongest team and replace them with multiple second-string players in the second half.
Who else might Mikel Arteta have available to invigorate the pedestrian performers from Dublin (I blame the Guinness!)? It’s too early for Bruno Guimarães to make his debut though he might be there to give the Emirates crowd a wave. The English and Spanish Gunners will still be lounging in the elite resorts of the world. I expect Gabriel and Martinelli to get more game-time than their Dublin cameos offered, perhaps 45 minutes, and Ødegaard, who joined training before Dublin, might get 30 minutes or so. With that in mind, and no more signings emerging, I expect the following starting XI, though I, personally, would start Meslier over Kepa and Havertz over Gyökeres but I don’t have to manage the egos of slighted players who might have to be called upon during the season:
Kepa
White Mosquera Gabriel Calafiori
Ødegaard MLS Nwaneri
Dowman Gyökeres Tzolis
I was unimpressed with our chance creation and finishing and the first half defending in Dublin. I don’t expect a sudden epiphany, so I don’t anticipate a high scoring game with multiple goals from the Arsenal. Meanwhile, Dortmund have lost much of their firepower and creativity over the summer and are bedding new signings into key roles. Therefore, I predict a 1-1 draw and an Arsenal victory on penalties!
COYG – it’s time to find fourth gear!
One has to have pre- season friendlies but when the starting eleven is such a shadow side it’s hard to value the process. Such is modern football in this FIFA – driven world where the intention is to have multiple competitions year upon yea4
Thanks for a much better preview than this game deserves Bath . I shall be intrigued by the outcome but won’t watch it, will hope for no injuries and look for some coherent progress in the transfer market. An enjoyable afternoon to any Holics going or trying to watch on Arsenal’s far from robust IT!
Thanks Bath, we have had some good games against Dortmund this century
and they have had some very good players, the ones you mentioned and Reus,
who I always thought we were going to sign and never did.
I’m afraid that like TTG I won’t watch either, hope no injuries and a good run-out
for all and sundry – i think a better defensive show and a 2-0 win will make
everyone happy.
Quality preview, Bath, providing all the info needed. I believe the game is a sell out. A good one for those unfortunate enough not to be Season Ticket holders to get into the ground.
Thanks Bath
I have no idea about this but hope we win 2-0
UTA
Ned @21 in previous, spot on.
Man on the Clapham omnibus – never heard of until now but I think I did pass through Clapham once and may have seen him?
UTA
For all wishing to watch the game, it’s free on YouTube. Kick off 2pm Sunday.
I’m always impressed we can sell out pre-season friendlies.
Bath,
In the previous drinks, understood on Dembele / Barcola – I hope
you are right about Gabi 🤞
Noosa,
That was lucky. I passed through Clapham (best way to see it) more
times than I count and never saw the little blighter 😃
Bruno announced
Mrs TTG was brought up in Clapham ( now pronounced ‘ Clarm’ by Estate Agents.) Many is the omnibus I’ve ridden there
TTG @10, YOU are the man on the Clapham omnibus! I claim my £5.
@11 Brilliant, Bath.
Very fine preview too. I’m looking forward to some more midfield magic from Nwaneri to up the chance creation. I’m less optimistic regarding the likelihood of Victor putting the chances away.
If I was a betting man I’d say that C100’s picture @9 suggests that Bruno will be doing more than waving from the crowd. Family all going along to the game – no sign of my ticket as yet. Strange.
Indeed, a fine preview, Bath. As you suggest, it will probably be a well-contested first half followed by a bitty second 45 minutes with the bit-part players coming on.
TTG@10: Is ‘riding the omnibus’ a euphemism for the activities of young South Londoners? I think we should be told!
Potsticker@previous drinks: Chinese football was also deeply riddled with corruption.
Not surprisingly, Infantino has denied the allegations in The Telegraph that UEFA paid off an ex-lover during his time there, although UEFA has enabled the story to keep going by acknowledging that a payment was made to a departing female employee, but saying it was to cover fees for attending business school.
“Attending business school”. Is that another euphemism?
This BBC story, quoting an unnamed source ‘close to’ Thrive Eternal, suggests that all FIFA’s member associations would have been given equity stakes in FFE.
They higlighted had the FFE proposal been activated, it would have given each member association a stake worth as much as $91m each based on its $20bn valuation – stressing that the equity would be controlled by Fifa, not investors, and to sell part of that equity would have been down to individual member associations.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd7l4e3v238o
I can just see private equity firms quietly buying up those stakes over the years, probably at knock-down prices, until they controlled a majority.
What else was in this deal that never came to light?
C100@17: possibly up there with discussions of Ugandan affairs.
I feel I must defend my ( hitherto unsullied) reputation. Firstly my behaviour in Clapham in the early 1970s was beyond reproach ( both on and off omnibuses) . I was a quiet, studious lad who behaved like a gentleman at all times . Bored stiff I was .
Secondly as someone who has spent significant periods at two business schools I can confirm that loose behaviour was non- existent and I behaved like a shy, young man from Clapham in the 1970s . I’ve continued along those lines since I left . I spent a lot of my time at Harvard trying to confirm that USA Today had got the story on us signing Dennis Bergkamp correct. Thankfully they had . I also watched a bit of the Red Sox .
The only orgies were in another dorm( so I was told )
TTG @ 20 I see your spillchucker at work again “Red Sox” indeed!
Uply@22: 🙂
TTG@20 It seems that we overlapped in Beantown. The US in those days was an almost total information desert when it came to Arsenal. I’m surprised USA Today covered Bergkamp’s signing. I would get the football scores a week late when the London papers arrived in the university library. There was no way to see any games, live or otherwise. Then the internet arrived and changed everything. Arseweb in particular was a godsend – does anyone remember Arseweb? Before Arseblog and Goonerholic there was Arseweb and it was wonderful. I could get match reports right after the games without having to wait a week and going down to the library. Arseweb had a good run before it stopped. I’ve often wondered what happened to Rupert, its founder. Anyone know?
Potsticker@24: Arseweb is a step down memory lane. Didn’t it invent St Tott’s Day? I think real life is what happened to its founders.
Yeah, they did Ned. For which they deserve eternal fame 😃
Thanks Bath for another fine preview. Hopefully, a more fluid display than against Betis as fitness improves.
OM@26: indeed they do.
Team news
That showed how much we depend on defensive solidity to keep us in a game until we eventually take one of our chances and go ahead.
>>>>>>>>>>>>