On Sunday, August 11, Arsenal will face Lyon in a crucial pre-season match at the Emirates Stadium as they look to defend their Emirates Cup title.
This fixture marks the Gunners' last pre-season game before their Premier League opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers, making it an essential tune-up for Mikel Arteta's side.
Arsenal’s Dominance in the Emirates Cup | Home Win = 1.54
Arsenal, the most successful team in the history of the Emirates Cup, are aiming for their eighth title in this annual pre-season tournament. Last year, they edged out Monaco to lift the trophy, and this year, they look set to repeat the feat after a dominant pre-season showing.
In their most recent match, Arsenal dismantled Bayer Leverkusen with a convincing 4-1 victory, showcasing the depth and talent within their squad. Goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Jesus highlighted a well-rounded attacking display. Despite the strong performance, Arteta remains focused on improvement, as his team continues to fine-tune their strategies ahead of the new season.
Lyon’s Quest for Emirates Cup Glory | Away Win = 4.50
Lyon, the last foreign team to win the Emirates Cup back in 2019, returns to North London with high hopes of repeating that success. The French side has had a rollercoaster journey in recent years, narrowly avoiding relegation from Ligue 1 last season before staging a remarkable comeback to secure Europa League qualification.
Under the guidance of Pierre Sage, Lyon has shown promise, notably with a resounding 4-0 victory over Union Berlin in their last pre-season match. Former Arsenal players Alexandre Lacazette and Ainsley Maitland-Niles have been key figures for Lyon, with the latter scoring in the Union Berlin rout. However, Lacazette will be absent for this match as he captains the France Olympic team.
Key Players & Team News
Arsenal will be without a few key players due to injuries, including Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu, while new signing Riccardo Calafiori is likely to get some minutes as he continues to adapt to English football. However, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, who featured for 45 minutes against Leverkusen, are expected to play significant roles.
Lyon, on the other hand, will miss Lacazette but will rely on Georges Mikautadze to lead the attack, supported by the experienced Nemanja Matic in midfield. Maitland-Niles is also expected to start against his former club, adding an interesting subplot to the encounter.
Match Stats & Betting Odds | Draw = 4.50
Arsenal and Lyon have met only twice in competitive fixtures, with the Gunners emerging victorious on both occasions during the 2000-01 Champions League second group stage. The other three (3) times were in the Emirates Cup and another friendly, of which Arsenal were winners on two occasions. |
Lyon has won three (3) of their last five (5) games in all competitions while drawing one and losing the other showing good form presently. |
There have been over 2.5 goals in all the last three (3) meetings between Arsenal and Lyon (6-0, 2-1, 3-0). |
You can check out the Arsenal vs Lyon Emirates Cup here on MSport.
