Arsenal Set to Face Girona in Pre-Season Friendly
Premier League champions Arsenal will take on La Liga side Girona in a pre-season friendly this Saturday. Mikel Arteta’s team has had a relatively quiet summer, with their only match thus far resulting in a 3-0 victory against League One club MK Dons in a closed-door fixture at their training facility last week. Arteta is keen for his players to deliver a strong performance against Girona as they ramp up their preparations for the upcoming season.
Following the matchup with Girona, the Gunners have scheduled further friendly matches against notable opponents, including Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund, and Como. These fixtures will serve as crucial warm-ups leading up to their Community Shield clash against Manchester City later in August.
On the transfer front, Arsenal appears to be targeting a defender to bolster their backline. Reports indicate interest from both Arsenal and Premier League rivals Liverpool in Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa.
A source reports that the two clubs are closely monitoring Konsa, who shone for the England national team during the recent World Cup held in North America. His impressive performances have made him a standout candidate for both teams as they look to enhance their defensive options ahead of the new campaign.
At 28, Konsa has established himself at Villa Park since joining from Brentford in 2019, marking an impressive 286 appearances across all competitions. According to reports, the defender would welcome an opportunity to join Arsenal, the reigning champions of the Premier League.
Although Aston Villa’s asking price of £60 million for Konsa may be perceived as steep, Arsenal has not dismissed the possibility of making a move for him. The Gunners are actively seeking to strengthen their defense, and Konsa ranks highly on their list of targets.
With Konsa’s contract at Villa Park extending until the 2027/28 season, it remains uncertain whether Aston Villa can retain him as the transfer window approaches its close. The coming weeks will be critical for both clubs as they assess potential deals and finalize their respective squads for the upcoming season.
