Bruno Guimarês stepped onto the pitch for his first appearance with Arsenal in a pre‑season friendly at the Emirates, while youngster Myles Lewis‑Skelly found the net amid swirling rumours about his future. The Gunners were held to a 1-1 stalemate by Italian side Como before ultimately prevailing 4-3 in a penalty shoot‑out. Guimarês, the £75 million acquisition from Newcastle United, was introduced at the interval.
His arrival was greeted with enthusiastic applause from the home crowd, underscoring the high expectations placed on the Brazilian midfielder. Earlier in the first half, Lewis‑Skelly had given Arsenal the lead, only for Como’s Martin Baturina to equalise, setting the stage for a tense second half. The young forward’s goal came after he intercepted a wayward pass from Como goalkeeper Jean Butez, cutting the ball cleanly and slotting it home. The strike arrived at a delicate moment, as speculation swirls that Lewis‑Skelly could be on the move away from the club.
In a light‑hearted celebration, he formed a heart shape with his hands, a gesture that seemed to acknowledge both his affection for the fans and the uncertainty surrounding his next career step. Despite Guimarês’s energetic introduction, Arsenal could not secure a decisive winner in regular time. The match proceeded to a penalty shoot‑out, where the newly‑signed midfielder joined fellow newcomer Christos Tzolis among the successful spot‑kick takers, helping the Gunners clinch the victory. Mikel Arteta made several surprising omissions, leaving out Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi even though all three had returned from World Cup duties earlier in the week.
Instead, the manager gave early minutes to several of their international teammates: England’s Eberechi Eze, goalkeeper David Raya, Spain’s Mikel Merino and fellow English prospect Noni Madueke all featured in the pre‑season action. Looking ahead, Arsenal will turn their focus to the Community Shield, scheduled for Sunday in Cardiff against Manchester City, before kicking off the Premier League campaign against Coventry City on 21 August, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Beyond the headline‑grabbing debut of Guimarês and the goal from a player whose future may be in flux, the performance of 16‑year‑old Marli Salmon provided another compelling narrative. Alongside Max Dowman, Salmon started the match in central defence, forming a youthful partnership that impressed both fans and coaching staff.
The 18‑year‑old Theo Julienne also featured at full‑back, but as Arteta rotated his squad and made a series of sweeping substitutions, Salmon remained composed and consistent, earning a standing ovation when he was finally subbed off in the 88th minute. Statistically, Salmon’s impact was undeniable. He won nine of his thirteen duels – the highest tally of any player on either side – and completed 42 of his 43 attempted passes, a passing accuracy that topped the match. These numbers reflected a maturity beyond his years, showcasing confidence both in possession and in defensive contests.
Como’s head coach, former Arsenal academy prodigy Cesc Fábregas, praised Salmon’s influence, saying, "Amazing. That's what it's all about. Hale End does an amazing job." Arteta echoed the sentiment, noting that Salmon could become a reliable defensive option, adding, "I think he was exceptional." In the post‑match press conference, Arteta spoke warmly about Guimarês, remarking, "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 feel the atmosphere in front of our fans immediately. You can sense a strong connection already, which I believe will make us better." Midfielder Mikel Merino, speaking to Arsenal’s official YouTube channel, highlighted 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’ll take the positives into the next game and hopefully dominate every match like we did today." Regarding the upcoming Community Shield, Arteta added, "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 pre‑season schedule leading up to the Shield has been busy for Arsenal. Highlights include a 3-0 victory over MK Dons on July 25 at the club’s training ground, a 4-1 triumph against Girona on August 1, a 3-1 defeat to Real Betis in Dublin on August 5, a narrow 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.
All of these fixtures have provided valuable minutes for new signings and academy graduates, allowing Artetta to assess depth and cohesion ahead of the competitive season. Fans can stay updated through Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel for the latest news, videos, analysis and more, while the Sky Sports app offers live streaming options for those without a traditional Sky subscription. The club’s official channels also provide free Premier League highlights and exclusive content for supporters worldwide.