Bruno Guimarães stepped onto the Emirates pitch for the first time in a pre‑season friendly against Italian side Como, while youngster Myles Lewis‑Skelly found the net despite swirling rumours about his future at the club. The match ended in a 1‑1 draw, with Arsenal eventually prevailing 4‑3 in the ensuing penalty shoot‑out. Guimarães, the £75 million midfielder Arsenal secured from Newcastle United earlier this summer, was introduced at the interval.
His debut came just moments after Lewis‑Skelly’s opening goal was levelled by Martin Baturina. The Brazilian‑born playmaker received a warm reception from the home crowd, his arrival hailed as a significant reinforcement for Arturá’s midfield.
Lewis‑Skelly’s strike was a textbook finish. After cutting out a wayward pass from Como’s keeper Jean Butez, the teenager slotted the ball home with composure. The goal arrived amid intense speculation that the 19‑year‑old could be on the move away from the North London club.
In a light‑hearted celebration, he formed a heart shape with his hands, a gesture that quickly went viral on social media. Despite Guimarães’ energetic introduction, Arsenal struggled to carve out a second‑half winner. The Gunners pressed but could not break the deadlock before the match moved to a penalty contest.
In the shoot‑out, both Guimarães and fellow newcomer Christos Tzolis stepped up and converted their spot‑kicks, helping Arsenal edge out Como 4‑3. Mikel Arteta made several notable omissions, leaving out Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi even though they had just returned from World Cup duties. Instead, the manager gave early minutes to a handful of pre‑season regulars and a few England and Spain internationals who train alongside the Arsenal first‑team squad, including Eberechi Eze, David Raya, Mikel Merino and Noni Madueke. Looking ahead, Arsenal’s focus now shifts to the Community Shield clash with Manchester City at Wembley, followed by the Premier League opener against Coventry City, scheduled for Friday, 21 August, live on Sky Sports.
Beyond the headline‑grabbing debut and the goal from a player rumored to be on the way out, another youngster stole the spotlight – 16‑year‑old defender Marli Salmon. Alongside fellow academy graduate Max Dowman, Salmon started at centre‑back, a rare opportunity for a player of his age. The 18‑year‑old Theo Julienne partnered him at full‑back.
As Arteta rotated the squad with a series of sweeping substitutions, Salmon remained composed, delivering a performance that earned him a standing ovation when he was subbed off in the 88th minute. Statistically, Salmon was a cut‑above: he won nine of his 13 duels – the highest tally on either side – and completed 42 of 43 passes, the best passing accuracy in the match.
His confidence on the ball, both in possession and defensively, highlighted the depth of Arsenal’s youth pipeline. Como’s head coach, former Arsenal academy prodigy Cesc Fábregas, praised Salmon’s impact, saying, "Amazing. That's what it's all about. Hale End does an amazing job." Arteta echoed the sentiment, noting that the youngster provides another credible defensive option and describing his display as "exceptional." In his post‑match press conference, Arteta spoke highly of Guimarães: "He only had three training sessions, but he looked good.
He was really pushing to play some minutes today. I think he wanted his debut in front of our fans immediately, and you can sense a strong connection that will make us better." Midfielder Mikel Merino, speaking to Arsenal’s official YouTube channel, added, "We dominated. The team showed what it is capable of.
Everyone was at a good level. Honestly, I think we deserved to win; we had massive chances.
We’ll take the positives into the next game and hope to dominate every match like we did today." Regarding the upcoming Community Shield, Arteta emphasized the significance of the fixture: "It's another final and we want to win, we want to give the fans more happiness. Wearing this shirt and this badge means a lot – we’ll give everything and play to our best capacity." The pre‑season schedule that led up to the Como friendly has been busy for the Gunners. Highlights include a 3‑0 victory over MK Dons on 25 July, a 4‑1 triumph against Girona on 1 August, a 3‑1 win over Real Betis in Dublin on 5 August, and a 3‑2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on 9 August.
The 1‑1 draw with Como on 12 August was the final warm‑up before the Community Shield, which is set for 16 August at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, kicking off at 3 pm. Overall, the match showcased Arsenal’s blend of high‑profile signings, seasoned internationals, and promising academy talent. While the draw may have been a modest result, the performances – especially from Guimarães, Lewis‑Skelly, and the teenage defenders – provide optimism ahead of the competitive season that looms on the horizon.