Bruno Guimaraes 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 amid swirling rumours about his future at the club. The match ended 1‑1, with Arsenal ultimately prevailing in a dramatic penalty shoot‑out, winning 4‑3. Guimaraes, the £75 million midfielder Arsenal secured from Newcastle United, was introduced at the interval.
His arrival was met with enthusiastic applause from the home crowd, eager to see how the new signing would adapt to Mikel Arteta’s system. Earlier in the first half, Lewis‑Skelly had given Arsenal the lead after capitalising on a sloppy pass from Como goalkeeper Jean Butez. The young forward slipped the ball past the keeper with a composed finish, then celebrated by forming a heart shape with his hands – a gesture that hinted at his affection for the club despite ongoing transfer speculation. Como responded quickly through Martin Baturina, whose strike levelled the score and set the tone for a tightly contested encounter.
Despite several chances on both sides, neither team could break the deadlock in regular time, and the game proceeded to a penalty shoot‑out. Guimaraes proved his composure by converting his spot‑kick, and fellow newcomer Christos Tzolis also stepped up to score, helping Arsenal edge out the visitors. Arteta made several notable selections for the friendly.
He omitted regular starters Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, who had just returned from the World Cup, opting instead to give minutes to a mix of academy prospects and recent signings. England and Spain internationals Eberechi Eze, David Raya, Mikel Merino and Noni Madueke all featured, providing a glimpse of the depth Artetta hopes to draw upon throughout the season.
The focus now shifts to the Community Shield clash with Manchester City at Wembley, scheduled for Sunday, before Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Coventry City on Friday, August 21, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Beyond the headline‑grabbing debut of Guimaraes and the goal from a player whose future appears uncertain, the performance of 16‑year‑old defender Marli Salmon attracted significant attention. Salmon, one of two academy teenagers to start alongside Max Dowman, operated as a centre‑back with fellow youngster Theo Julienne covering the full‑back role. Throughout the match, Arteta made a series of sweeping substitutions, yet Salmon remained a constant presence, displaying composure and tactical awareness beyond his years.
He earned a standing ovation from the fans when he was substituted in the 88th minute. Statistically, Salmon was a cut‑above the competition. He won nine of his 13 duels – the highest tally on the pitch – and completed 42 of 43 attempted passes, topping the passing accuracy chart. These numbers underscored his confidence both in possession and in defensive contests, suggesting he could become a reliable option for Arteta’s back line.
Como’s head coach, former Arsenal academy star Cesc Fàbregas, praised the youngster’s impact, saying, “Amazing. That’s what it’s all about.
Hale End does an amazing job.” Arteta echoed the sentiment, labeling Salmon’s display as “exceptional” and hinting that the teenager could provide valuable depth as the season progresses. In his post‑match press conference, Artetta spoke warmly about Guimaraes, noting that the midfielder had only attended three training sessions with the squad but already looked comfortable.
"He was eager to get minutes today and to feel the atmosphere in front of our fans. I sensed an immediate connection that will only make us stronger," Artetta said. Midfielder Mikel Merino, speaking to Arsenal’s official YouTube channel, highlighted the team’s overall performance: "We dominated large portions of the game. Everyone performed at a high level, and we created numerous clear‑cut chances.
We should take the positives into the next match and aim to dominate every game as we did today." Looking ahead to the Community Shield, Artetta added, "It’s another final and we want to win it for the fans. Wearing this shirt and badge means a lot; we’ll give everything we have and play at our best capacity." Recent pre‑season results provide context for Arsenal’s preparations: a 3‑0 victory over MK Dons on July 25, a 4‑1 win against Girona on August 1, a 3‑1 loss to Real Betis in Dublin on August 5, a 3‑2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund on August 9, and the 1‑1 draw with Como on August 12, which concluded with the penalty shoot‑out triumph. The upcoming Community Shield against Manchester City on August 16 will be the next major test before the Premier League campaign kicks off.