Cesc Fàbregas set for emotional arsenal return as como face gunners in pre-season friendly

An emotional return for a gunners icon

Cesc Fàbregas, the beloved former Arsenal captain, will make a poignant return to the Emirates Stadium this summer – not as a player, but as head coach of Como. The Spanish midfielder, who rose through the Gunners’ academy and spent eight trophy-laden years in north London, will lead his Italian side onto the pitch on Wednesday 12 August at 19:30 BST. It promises to be a moving occasion for the 39-year-old, who made his professional debut for Arsenal in 2003 before moving to Barcelona in 2011. The friendly marks a major step in Como’s rapid ascent, giving them a stern test against one of Europe’s elite sides just before they embark on their first-ever Champions League campaign.

A historic fixture at the emirates

Despite the deep personal ties Fàbregas holds with both clubs, this will be the first competitive meeting between Arsenal and Como. The match has generated huge excitement among supporters of both teams, with the Italian outfit eager to see how their squad measures up against Mikel Arteta’s formidable side. “Como 1907 will travel to the Emirates Stadium this summer to face Arsenal, the reigning English champions and Champions League finalists, in a pre-season friendly,” the club confirmed in a statement. “This fixture will be the first-ever encounter between Como 1907 and Arsenal, allowing the Lariani to experience the magical and iconic atmosphere of the Emirates Stadium.”

Como’s champions league preparations

Last season, Como stunned Serie A by finishing in the top four, securing a Champions League berth ahead of traditional giants like AC Milan and Juventus. The club is now investing heavily to remain competitive on all fronts, recently spending €60 million to retain their star playmaker Nico Paz, who was on loan from Real Madrid. “For the BiancoBlu, this will be an excellent opportunity to test themselves against one of the strongest and most consistent teams in Europe, ahead of a season that sees Como 1907 compete in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history,” the statement continued. “Supporters will be able to purchase general admission tickets for this match; further information regarding ticketing will be communicated shortly via the club’s official channels.”

Preparing for an intense 2026-27 season

The friendly comes at a perfect time for both sides. It takes place exactly ten days before Como begin their Serie A campaign away to Udinese, and only nine days before Arsenal start their Premier League title defence against Coventry City. The Gunners will use the occasion to fine-tune their preparations for another dominant domestic season. The Emirates crowd is expected to give Fàbregas a hero’s welcome, but once the game kicks off, all attention will be on whether his Como side can hold their own against the English heavyweights.