Girona and Arsenal have confirmed their starting teams for their friendly at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi on Saturday.
The Costa Brava Trophy match is the latest in a showpiece that has been running since 1970 and featured the likes of Wolves, Tottenham and Manchester City.
Relegated from La Liga last season, the Spanish club are owned by the City Football Group that also controls clubs including Manchester City.
The visitors are without their stars who reached the later rounds of the World Cup 2026, so numerous Arsenal academy prospects are hoping to feature.
All set in Spain.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 1, 2026
📍 Estadi Montilivi pic.twitter.com/7rsz3etn4y
Girona confirmed starting team vs Arsenal
Girona starting XI: To follow
Girona substitutes: To follow
Arsenal full line up vs Girona
Ben White starts for Arsenal as the defender continues his comeback from a long-term knee injury but full-back Jurrien Timber has 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 Kai Havertz also started.
Brazil pair Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli have trained but are 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
Where to watch Girona vs Arsenal: TV channel, online live stream
Kick-off on Saturday is at 19:00 BST (14:00 ET / 11:00 PT). Live TV coverage in the UK and some territories is on Arsenal’s website.
Streaming is on the accompanying app. A match pass costs £6.99 or a pre-season pass to watch four Arsenal friendlies is £14.99.
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 have won the last five editions of the trophy match, beating Wolves, Espanyol, Lazio, Club Bolivar and a Barcelona Legends team
- Their last defeat in the contest was 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)
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