Football Warm-Up Friendlies: Arsenal Fall to Villarreal as Spurs and Bayern Set for Clash
6 August 2025 – Europe: As the new football season looms, clubs across Europe are fine-tuning their squads through a series of warm-up friendlies. From dramatic finishes to surprise venue changes, here’s a look at some of the key fixtures making headlines this week.
Arsenal 2–3 Villarreal (Emirates Stadium, Aug 6)
Arsenal suffered a narrow 2–3 home defeat to Villarreal in their final friendly before the Premier League kick-off. Former Gunner Nicolas Pépé opened the scoring, followed by goals from Karl Etta Eyong and Arnaut Danjuma for the visitors.
Arsenal responded through Christian Nørgaard from a corner and a penalty by Martin Ødegaard—earned by 15-year-old rising star Max Dowman. Summer signing Viktor Gyökeres made his debut but struggled to find rhythm.
“Dowman was a bright spark. Gyökeres needs minutes, but the quality is there,” said manager Mikel Arteta post-match.
Bayern Munich vs Tottenham (Preview – Aug 7, Allianz Arena)
Bayern Munich will host Tottenham Hotspur on 7 August at 18:30 CET (17:30 BST) in a marquee friendly. Bayern enter off a 2–1 win over Lyon, while Spurs remain unbeaten in five pre-season matches.
Spurs are expected to field recent signings including Wanner and Luis Díaz, while managing the absence of Son Heung-min. The game marks the final pre-season outing before Spurs’ UEFA Super Cup clash.
Aston Villa vs Roma (Aug 6 – Bescot Stadium)
Aston Villa face Roma at Walsall’s Bescot Stadium due to summer event scheduling at Villa Park. Despite the modest 11,300-seat venue, fan interest remains high.
This fixture is viewed as a key tactical test ahead of Villa’s European campaign kickoff.
Brentford vs Borussia Mönchengladbach (Aug 8 – Gtech Community Stadium)
Brentford conclude their pre-season with a home friendly against Gladbach on Friday 8 August at 19:30 BST. The match offers final preparation before their Premier League opener.
Burnley vs Lazio (Behind Closed Doors)
Burnley played Lazio in a closed-door match at Turf Moor as part of their summer schedule, which included previous fixtures against Fleetwood, Wolves, Huddersfield, and Shrewsbury.
Key Takeaways
- Arsenal’s new signings need time to gel, while academy prospects continue to impress.
- Spurs look sharp ahead of competitive European play and face a strong Bayern side.
- Smaller venues like Bescot Stadium show clubs adapting to logistical constraints while maintaining high-level opposition.
Match Summary Table
Fixture Date & Venue Key Notes Arsenal 2–3 Villarreal Aug 6, Emirates Stadium Pépé scores on return; Ødegaard & Dowman shine Bayern vs Tottenham Aug 7, Allianz Arena Final test before Super Cup Aston Villa vs Roma Aug 6, Bescot Stadium Venue switch draws attention Brentford vs Gladbach Aug 8, Gtech Stadium Premier League warm-up Burnley vs Lazio Closed doors, Turf Moor Final game of summer schedule
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