Arsenal are seeking to retain the Premier League title in 2026/27, and their preparations for the new season begin this weekend when they do battle with Girona in their first proper friendly of the summer.Will Arsenal come out on top in this non-competitive clash, or can Girona give Mikel Arteta something to think about on the first day of August?Arsenal/Arsenal half-time/full-time – 5/4 with Sky BetOver 2.5 goals – 4/6 with ToteGabriel Jesus to score any time – 13/10 with BOYLE SportsGirona vs Arsenal head to head overviewDate: Saturday 1st August.Kick-off: 7pm.Venue: Estadi Municipal de Montilivi, Girona, Spain.Where to watch: Not being shown in the UK.Referee: TBC.VAR: No.Last meeting: 29th January 2025; Girona 1-2 Arsenal.Favourite to win: Arsenal.Girona vs Arsenal predicted lineupsGirona expected lineup: Krapyvytsov; A. Martinez, Lopez, Yaakobishvili, Moreno; Beltran, Martin; Camara, Misehouy, Gil; Vanat.Arsenal expected lineup: Kepa; Mosquera, Salmon, Calafiori, Hincapie; Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard; Dowman, Nwaneri, Tzolis; Jesus.Girona vs Arsenal predictionsArsenal beat Milton Keynes Dons 3-0 behind closed doors a few days ago, but this game against Girona is their first official friendly of the summer.The Gunners will go on to face Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund and Como before taking part in the new season’s traditional curtain-raiser, the Community Shield.That game against Manchester City at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff will be Arsenal’s last chance to finetune their setup ahead of their defence of the Premier League title.Conversely, Saturday’s meeting with Girona is primarily about starting to get the players up to fitness ahead of the big kick-off.Last season ended in disappointing fashion for Arsenal, who were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in the Champions League final, but it was still a glorious campaign for the club.Following three consecutive second-place finishes, Arsenal finally ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title. And although they were ultimately runners-up rather than winners in Europe’s top competition, that was Arsenal’s first appearance in the final for two decades.As champions at home, the Gunners now have a target on their backs. But with Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea all in transition following the appointment of new managers, Arsenal are the team to beat once more in the upcoming campaign.Arsenal have in effect swapped Leandro Trossard for Christos Tzolis in the summer market, with a deal for Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes thought to be progressing. There has also been talk of a swoop for Vinicius Junior, but that one feels more ambitious.Girona, for their part, are preparing for the Segunda Division season in Spain following relegation from the top flight last time out.Girona vs Arsenal betting tipsArsenal’s first summer friendly sees the Premier League champions take on Girona in Spain.Will Arsenal triumph?Girona finished 19th in La Liga last season. It was quite the comedown following their participation in the Champions League the year before.Needless to say, a team that finished second-bottom in Spain’s top division last season will struggle to match Arsenal, even in a friendly.That does not mean the Gunners will necessarily win heavily. We will see an experimental team from Mikel Arteta, with many of Arsenal’s World Cup stars still away.But even with a reserve XI, Arsenal should be able to establish a lead in the first half of this match, before going on to emerge victorious. Back Arsenal/Arsenal in the half-time/full-time market at 5/4 with Sky Bet Attacks over defencesThe result is not important on Saturday, with both Mikel Arteta and Girona boss Quique Alvarez prioritising other things.Arsenal were a tough nut to crack last season, but we will not see quite the same level of intensity in their defending in this friendly. That gives Girona hope, although we should not read too much into the fact they scored three goals against Castellon earlier this week.One way or another, goals are on the cards in Catalonia as one or two of Arsenal’s fringe attackers aim to make a statement. Tip over 2.5 goals at 4/6 with Tote Who will find net?Given he was not involved in the World Cup, Gabriel Jesus looks set to be included in Mikel Arteta’s first starting XI of the summer.Whether or not the Brazilian will still be an Arsenal player by the end of the window remains to be seen, but for now he is still available to Arteta.Jesus has struggled with injuries over the last few years, so it is vital he gets a good pre-season under his belt.The former Manchester City man is a good value pick to find the back of the net against a second-tier Spanish side. Go for Gabriel Jesus to score any time at 13/10 with BOYLE Sports Girona vs Arsenal latest oddsFind the latest Girona vs Arsenal betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.More pre-season friendly predictionsWe have plenty more pre-season friendly predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.Important historical facts about Girona and Arsenal for bettingArsenal beat Girona in January 2025, their only previous game against each other. Girona are owned by the City Football Group, whose flagship club are Arsenal’s rivals Manchester City. Girona failed to win any of their last nine games in 2025/26.About the authorGreg LeaGreg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootballCommercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. 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