Owned by the City Football Group that also controls clubs including Manchester City, Girona have a new manager in Quique Alvarez.
The former Barcelona youth coach has replaced Michel, who guided Girona to a debut Champions League campaign two seasons ago as part of his five-year reign.
¿Que se encuentra un balón suelto?
GABRIEL JESUS LA MANDA A GUARDAR⭐ pic.twitter.com/MbjSLdLS8E
— DAZN Fútbol (@DAZNFutbol) August 1, 2026
Girona team vs Arsenal
New 6ft 7in Ukrainian forward Oleksandr Pyshchur, who joined Girona from Hungarian club ETO, who was on the bench.
Fellow 21-year-old Izan Gonzalez came on in midfield after joining from fifth-tier club Cornella.
Former Real Madrid B and Spain youth midfielder Ivan Morante has signed from second-tier team Burgos but is not involved.
Girona starting XI: Paulo Gazzaniga, Arnau Martinez, Alejandro Frances, David Lopez, Alex Moreno, Bryan Gil, Fran Beltran, Donny van de Beek, Lancinet Kourouma, Kim Min-Su, Vladyslav Vanat
Girona substitutes: Cristhian Stuani, Abel Ruiz, Dawda Camara, Ivan Martin, Vladyslav Krapyvtsov, Gabriel Misehouy, Gibi, Jastin Garcia, Izan Gonzalez, Oleksandr Pyshchur, Antal Yaakobishvili, Ricard Artero, Holmes Zamorano, Guillem Badia, Antonio Salguero, Javier Sarasa, Sergi Puig
Arsenal team vs Girona
White starting was good news for Arsenal but full-back Jurrien Timber had left the camp because of a groin problem.
Of Arsenal’s players to feature at the World Cup 2026, defender Piero Hincapie and forwards Viktor Gyokeres and Havertz also started.
Head coach Mikel Arteta made eight substitutions in the 62nd minute, giving chances to many of his emerging academy products.
Hincapie, Havertz and Gyokeres made way after 33 minutes. Brazil pair Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli had trained but were not involved.
Arsenal starting XI: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz, Ethan Nwaneri, Max Dowman, Christos Tzolis, Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal substitutes: llan Meslier, Khari Ranson, Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, Demiane Agustien, Brayden Clarke, Louie Copley, Andre Harriman-Annous, Ife Ibrahim, Theo Julienne, Ismael Kabia, Josh Ogunnaike, Ceadach O’Neill
Girona vs Arsenal stats
While Arsenal won the English title last season, Girona’s eight-match losing runs at the start and end of their campaign ensured they finished 19th in La Liga
Their points total of 41 would have kept them up in each of the previous 14 seasons
Two of their squad – goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga and winger Bryan Gil – used to play for Spurs, while Donny van der Beek (Manchester United) and 39-year-old Stuani (Middlesbrough) also have Premier League experience
Girona had beaten Wolves, Espanyol, Lazio, Club Bolivar and a Barcelona Legends team in those five successive wins in this game
Their previous defeat in the contest had been a 1-0 loss to Montpellier in 2019, although they beat Tottenham 4-1 and Manchester City 1-0 in the years immediately preceding that game
Fulham were the first team to compete for the trophy when the event was held as a four-team spectacle in 1973
Both of Girona’s competitive European matches against English clubs have been at home, losing 1-0 to Liverpool and 2-1 to Arsenal in the Champions League two seasons ago
Arsenal took on two Spanish sides in pre-season in 2025/26, losing to Villarreal after normal time and in a subsequent penalty shootout at the Emirates Stadium before reversing their fortunes in both instances against Athletic Club at home three days later
They were unbeaten in four competitive meetings with Spanish clubs last season, beating Athletic Club and Atletico Madrid during the Champions League group stage before drawing away to Atleti and beating them at home in the semi-finals
Having lost on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final in Budapest in May, Arsenal have failed to win five of their last eight games away from the Emirates Stadium (W3 L3 D2)
