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, though Arsenal ultimately had to settle for a 1‑1 draw before clinching victory in a dramatic penalty shoot‑out, 4‑3. Guimaraes, the £75 million midfielder Arsenal secured from Newcastle United earlier this summer, was introduced at the interval. His arrival was met with enthusiastic applause from the home crowd, eager to see how the new signing would fit into Mikel Arteta's evolving system.
The match began with both teams probing each other cautiously. Como took the lead through Martin Baturina, who capitalised on a defensive lapse to slot the ball past the Arsenal keeper. Arsenal responded swiftly when Lewis‑Skelly, a promising academy graduate whose future has been the subject of intense speculation, intercepted a wayward pass from Como goalkeeper Jean Butez and drove the ball home. The goal was celebrated with a heart‑shaped hand gesture, a subtle nod to his affection for the club despite rumors that he may be on the move.
After the break, Artarta made a series of tactical adjustments, bringing Guimaraes onto the field to add creativity and stability in midfield. The new signing immediately showed composure, linking up with fellow newcomers such as Christos Tzolis and the teenage defender Marli Salmon.
Although Arsenal pressed for a winner, the second half remained tightly contested, and the score stayed level at 1‑1 when the final whistle blew. The deadlock was broken only in the ensuing penalty shoot‑out.
Guimaraes stepped up confidently, converting his spot‑kick, and Tzolis also found the back of the net, helping Arsenal edge Como 4‑3 on penalties. The victory, while modest, provided a valuable glimpse of how the squad might operate once the competitive season begins. Arteta's selection choices sparked discussion. He omitted several high‑profile players who had just returned from World Cup duty—Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi—opting instead to give minutes to younger talents.
England and Spain internationals Eberechi Eze, David Raya, Mikel Merino and Noni Madueke all featured in the pre‑season lineup, underscoring Arteta's willingness to experiment with different combinations. Beyond the headline‑grabbing debut of Guimaraes and the goal from a player potentially on his way out, another story emerged from the performance of 16‑year‑old defender Marli Salmon. Alongside fellow youngster Max Dowman, Salmon started at centre‑back, flanked by 18‑year‑old Theo Julienne at full‑back.
As Arteta rotated the squad throughout the match, Salmon remained a constant presence, displaying poise beyond his years. He won nine of his thirteen duels—the highest tally on either side—and completed 42 of 43 attempted passes, the best passing accuracy in the game.
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 prodigy 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, calling Salmon "exceptional" and hinting that he could become a reliable defensive option for the first team.
In his post‑match press conference, Arteta commented on Guimaraes's integration: "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, and I believe it will make us better." The Portuguese midfielder himself expressed optimism about his future at the club, noting the warm reception from both teammates and supporters.
Midfield partner 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 will take the positives into the next game and hopefully dominate every game like we did today." His remarks set the tone for the upcoming fixtures. Looking ahead, Arsenal's focus shifts to the Community Shield clash against Manchester City in Cardiff, scheduled for Sunday.
Arteta described the fixture as another final: "We want to win, we want to give the fans more happiness. Wearing this shirt and this badge means a lot, and we will give everything, playing at our best capacity." The Gunners will then commence their Premier League campaign against Coventry City on August 21, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Recent pre‑season results provide context for Arsenal's preparation: a 3‑0 victory over MK Dons on July 25, a 4‑1 win at Girona on August 1, a 3‑1 loss to Real Betis in Dublin on August 5, a 3‑2 defeat by Borussia Dortmund on August 9, and the 1‑1 draw with Como on August 12, followed by the upcoming Community Shield. These fixtures have allowed Arteta to assess his squad depth, experiment with formations, and integrate new signings ahead of the demanding season ahead.