Bruno Guimaraes stepped onto the pitch for the first time in an Arsenal shirt, while youngster Myles Lewis‑Skelly found the net amid swirling rumors about his future, as the Gunners were held to a 1‑1 draw by Como before ultimately prevailing 4‑3 in a penalty shoot‑out. Guima, the £75 million acquisition from Newcastle United, was brought on at the interval during the pre‑season friendly at the Emirates Stadium after Lewis‑Skelly’s early strike had been levelled by Martin Baturina.
Lewis‑Skelly’s goal came after he intercepted a wayward pass from Como keeper Jean Butez and calmly slotted the ball home. The teenager, whose name has been linked with a possible departure from the club, celebrated with a heart‑shaped hand gesture, a gesture that quickly caught the attention of fans and pundits alike. When Guimaraes entered the game, the reception was overwhelmingly positive; the crowd gave him a warm welcome as the new midfield dynamo.
Despite the enthusiastic introduction, Arsenal could not produce a decisive second‑half winner, and the match moved to a dramatic penalty shoot‑out. Both Guimaraes and fellow newcomer Christos Tzolis stepped up and converted their spot‑kicks, helping the Gunners clinch the victory. Mikel Artarta made several surprising selection choices, leaving out returning internationals Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, even though they had just completed World Cup duties. Instead, the manager gave early minutes to a host of pre‑season hopefuls, including England teammates Eberechi Eze, David Raya, and Spanish internationals Mikel Merino and Noni Madueke.
Their involvement underscored Artarta’s willingness to test the depth of his squad ahead of the upcoming competitive fixtures. With the friendly now concluded, Arsenal’s focus shifts to the Community Shield, scheduled for Sunday in Cardiff against Manchester City, followed by the Premier League opener against Coventry on Friday, August 21, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Beyond the headline‑grabbing debut of the £75 million midfielder and the goal from a player who may soon be on the move, another storyline emerged: the impressive display of 16‑year‑old defender Marli Salmon. Alongside fellow teenager Max Dowman, Salmon started the match at centre‑back, with 18‑year‑old Theo Julienne covering the full‑back role.
As Artarta rotated the squad, Salmon remained composed and consistent, earning a standing ovation from the home crowd when he was substituted in the 88th minute. Statistically, Salmon’s performance was outstanding.
He won nine of his thirteen duels – the highest tally of any player on either side – and completed 42 of 43 attempted passes, again the best passing accuracy in the game. These numbers reflected his confidence and technical ability both in possession and defensively. Como’s head coach, former Arsenal academy graduate Cesc Fàbregas, praised the young defender’s impact, saying, "Amazing. That's what it's all about.
Hale End does an amazing job." Artarta echoed the sentiment, labeling Salmon "exceptional" and hinting at a potential long‑term role for the teenager in the first team. In the post‑match press conference, Artarta spoke highly of Guimaraes, noting that the Brazilian midfielder had only three training sessions with the squad but already displayed a strong desire to earn minutes and connect with the fans. "He wanted his debut and to feel the atmosphere in front of our supporters straight away. You can sense a strong link that will make us better," Artarta said.
Midfielder Mikel Merino, speaking to Arsenal’s official YouTube channel, praised the overall team performance: "We dominated. The team showed what it is capable of. Everyone was at a good level.
Honestly, we deserved to win; we created many chances. We’ll take the positives into the next game and hope to dominate every match as we did today." Looking ahead to the Community Shield, Artarta added, "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; it’s about giving everything and playing 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 triumph against Girona on August 1, a 3‑1 defeat to Real Betis in Dublin on August 5, a 3‑2 loss to Borussia Dortmund on August 9, and the 1‑1 draw with Como on August 12 that culminated in the penalty shoot‑out win. The next milestone will be the Community Shield clash with Manchester City in Cardiff at 3 p.m., a match that will serve as a litmus test for the squad’s readiness ahead of the Premier League season.