Borussia Dortmund take on Arsenal in the Emirates Cup clash on Sunday as Niko Kovac's side engage in their fifth preseason game of the summer.
As the clash is held at the Emirates Stadium in London, the game also marks a second foreign tour for the BVB after having visited Japan last week.
On paper, this fixture reeks Champions League quality given the rich European heritage of both these teams and their past meetings in the competition too.
Ahead of a potential high-octane clash, here are three key battles between Arsenal and Dortmund:
1) Viktor Gyokeres vs Waldemar Anton
Arsenal's Swedish sharpshooter Viktor Gyokeres will be the focal point of their attack as he'd be aiming to give the fans something to cheer in their first home match of the preseason. Bought in for a mammoth €55 million transfer from Sporting CP in 2025, he struck 14 times in the Premier League last season coupled with another five in the Champions League to emerge as their most potent attacking weapon.
Waldemar Anton though, isn't quite like anything he's come across before. The Germany international was the defensive linchpin for Dortmund last term with his excellent game-reading ability, ice-cool composure and unflinching leadership, turning BVB into Bundesliga's meanest side of 2025-26 season. It will be interesting to see how Anton deals with Gyokeres' strength, movement and hold-up play.
2) Max Dowman vs Daniel Svensson
Up next is an interesting battle between two young players on the flanks, the boisterous teenager Max Dowman, who broke a series of appearance records for Arsenal in different competitions, against Dortmund's flying Swede, Daniel Svensson.
Skillful, energetic and menacing in the final third, the 16-year-old Dowman could be a handful for Svensson here but the BVB ace will be looking to close down the space on his side while also aiming to get forward effectively.
3) Jobe Bellingham vs Myles Lewis-Skelly
In midfield, there could be another epic battle between two young bloods as Jobe Bellingham and Myles Lewis-Skelly go head-to-head. Bellingham, up against a familiar foe, will be eager to make a mark as his ability to carry the ball forward and make defense-splitting passes is sure to give Arsenal plenty to ponder.
Lewis-Skelly is eager to nail down a starting berth in Arsenal's XI this season and his performance in a match like this could certainly make or break his case. The 19-year-old is athletic and possesses excellent positional awareness. Whichever of these two is in control of midfield could help dictate control of the game's tempo.
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