Bruno Guimaraes stepped onto the pitch for the first time in an Arsenal shirt during a pre‑season friendly against Italian side Como, while academy forward Myles Lewis‑Skelly found the net in a match that ended 1‑1 before Arsenal triumphed 4‑3 in the ensuing penalty shoot‑out. The encounter, played at the Emirates Stadium, offered a glimpse of how the Gunners might line up for the upcoming season and sparked plenty of discussion about the future of several young players. Guimaraes, the £75 million midfielder Arsenal secured from Newcastle United this summer, was introduced at the interval. His arrival was met with a warm reception from the home crowd, many of whom were eager to see whether the highly‑rated Portuguese would adapt quickly to Mikel Arteta's system.
The midfielder’s first touch was measured, but his composure in possession hinted at the quality that prompted Arsenal to invest such a hefty sum. He spent the second half linking up with the likes of Martin Ødegaard and new signing Christos Tzolis, both of whom later stepped up to convert penalties in the shoot‑out.
The opening goal came from Lewis‑Skelly, a 16‑year‑old who has been a regular feature in Arsenal's youth set‑up. After a sloppy back‑pass from Como goalkeeper Jean Butez was intercepted, the youngster cut inside and slotted the ball home.
The goal was significant not only because it gave Arsenal the lead, but also because Lewis‑Skelly has been linked with a potential departure, with speculation that his development may be accelerated by a move away from the club. He celebrated by forming a heart with his hands, a gesture that resonated with the fans and underscored his affection for the club. Como responded quickly through Martin Baturina, whose strike levelled the score and set the stage for a tightly contested encounter.
Despite several chances on both sides, neither team could find a winner in regulation time. Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, opted to rotate his squad heavily, leaving out senior internationals such as Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, all of whom had just returned from World Cup duty. Instead, Arteta gave minutes to a host of younger talents, including England and Spain internationals Eberechi Eze, David Raya, Mikel Merino and Noni Madueke, all of whom were making early pre‑season appearances.
When the final whistle blew, the match proceeded to a penalty shoot‑out. Guimaraes and fellow newcomer Christos Tzolis stepped up and converted their spot‑kicks, contributing to Arsenal's 4‑3 victory. The successful penalties provided a morale boost ahead of the club's next fixtures, notably the Community Shield clash against Manchester City in Cardiff and the Premier League opener against Coventry City, scheduled for Friday, August 21, on Sky Sports.
Beyond the headline‑grabbing debut of Guimaraes and the goal from Lewis‑Skelly, another young player attracted attention: 16‑year‑old defender Marli Salmon. Paired at centre‑back with fellow teenager Max Dowman, Salmon delivered a composed performance that belied his age.
Throughout the match he won nine of his 13 duels, the highest tally among all players on the pitch, and completed 42 of his 43 attempted passes, a passing accuracy that topped both teams. His calmness under pressure earned him a standing ovation from the Arsenal faithful when he was substituted in the 88th minute.
Como's head coach, former Arsenal academy product Cesc Fabregas, praised Salmon and Dowman's impact, stating, "Amazing. That's what it's all about. Hale End does an amazing job." Arteta echoed the sentiment, labeling Salmon "exceptional" and suggesting that the youngster could become a reliable defensive option for the first team. In the post‑match press conference, Artetta spoke enthusiastically about Guimaraes: "He only had three training sessions, but he looked good.
He was really pushing to play some minutes today. I think he wanted to get his debut and the feeling of playing in front of our fans immediately. And, yeah, you sense immediately, I believe, a strong connection at play that is going to make us better." The Portuguese midfielder’s eagerness to contribute was evident, and his early integration signals that Artetta trusts him to be a central figure in the squad.
Midfielder Mikel Merino, speaking to Arsenal's official YouTube channel, reflected on the team's overall performance: "I think 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 to score.
We take the positives into the next game and hopefully we can dominate every game like we did today." His comments underline the optimism surrounding the squad as they head into competitive fixtures. Looking ahead to the Community Shield, Artetta emphasized the importance of the match: "It's another final and we want to win, we want to give the fans more happiness.
But especially for us, we want to compete. Wearing this shirt and this badge means a lot and that's about giving everything and playing to our best capacity." The upcoming showdown with Manchester City will be a stern test of Arsenal's pre‑season progress and an opportunity for the new signings and academy graduates to stake their claim. In summary, the friendly against Como offered several key takeaways: Guimaraes' debut confirmed his readiness to compete at the highest level, Lewis‑Skelly's goal highlighted his potential despite transfer rumors, and Marli Salmon's defensive display demonstrated the depth of talent emerging from Arsenal's academy. With the Community Shield looming and the Premier League season fast approaching, Arsenal appear well‑prepared to blend experience with youth, aiming to deliver a competitive and entertaining brand of football for their supporters.