Cesc Fabregas returns to Arsenal with Como for emotional pre-season friendly

Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal legend, is set for an emotional return to his boyhood club this summer. His Como side will travel to north London for a pre-season friendly. The former Gunners captain will lead the Italian team onto the pitch at the Emirates Stadium on August 12, as both clubs fine-tune preparations for the 2026-2027 season.

An emotional return for a Gunners icon

Scheduled for Wednesday evening at 7:30 PM British time, this match marks Fabregas’s return to his old stomping ground, this time as a manager. An undoubtedly poignant moment for the Spaniard, who made his professional debut at Arsenal in 2003 and spent eight years there before moving to Barcelona, becoming a fan idol. For Como, this trip to the Emirates is a major milestone in their rapid rise and will serve as a real test against one of world football’s giants, just before their first-ever Champions League campaign.

A legendary fixture in north London

Despite the close ties Fabregas has with both clubs, Arsenal and Como will face each other for the first time ever. The match has generated great excitement among supporters of both sides, with the Italian team 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. “This match will mark the very first meeting between Como 1907 and Arsenal, and will allow the Lariani to experience the magical and iconic setting of the Emirates Stadium.”

Champions League preparations for Como

Last season, Como spectacularly qualified for the European elite by finishing in the top four of Serie A, ahead of powerhouses like AC Milan and Juventus. The club is now investing heavily to remain competitive on all fronts, having recently spent 60 million euros to keep their star playmaker Nico Paz, on loan from Real Madrid. “For the BiancoBlu, this will be an excellent opportunity to measure themselves against one of the strongest and most consistent teams in Europe, ahead of a season that will see Como 1907 compete in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history,” the statement continued. “Fans will be able to purchase general admission tickets for this match; further information regarding ticketing will be announced soon via the club’s official channels.”

Preparing for an intense 2026-2027 season

This friendly comes at the perfect time for both teams: it takes place exactly ten days before the visitors begin their Serie A season at Udinese, and just nine days before Arsenal starts the defence of their Premier League title against Coventry City. The Gunners will look to use this opportunity to sharpen their weapons, aiming for another dominant domestic season. The Emirates crowd is expected to give Fabregas a rousing welcome, but once the whistle blows, all eyes will be on whether his team can stand up to these English heavyweights.